Facts On Earthworms -Erica Chen
Vu - PreAP Biology - April 6, 2014 - Period 3
Lumbricina
Adaptations
- Setae are bristly hairs that provides grip to help earthworm move through soil
- Earthworm's streamlined body with no antennae, fin, arms or legs helps them live in narrow burrows underground and makes moving easier
- Earthworm has circular muscle that surround each body segment. It also has longitudinal muscles that run the lengths of its body. Those muscle also helps with movement.
Physiological:
- Mucus or coelomic fluid helps them move smoothly through soil
- When environmental condition is not favorable, earthworms can become inactive in a process called aestivation
Behavioral:
- Earthworms react to vibration. When they feel predator, they will move away.
- Earthworms are sensitive toward light and are usually seen on soil surface at night
- Earthworms lose moisture through their skin so they move out of their burrow to migrate and reproduce when the ground is wet with dew. This is one reason why they can be seen in the early morning.
Taxonomy
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Haplotaxida
Family: Lambricicdae
Genus: Lumbricus
Species: Terrestris
Evolutionary History and Relationships
Lab Dissection
External Anatomy
- Prostomium
- Setae
- Segments
- Clitellum
- Anus
Internal Anatomy
- Prostomium
- Pharynx
- Seminal receptacles
- Seminal vesicles
- Crop
- Gizzard
- Nephridia
- Clitellum
Digestive System
Digestive System Interaction
Excretory System
Circulatory System
Muscular System
Interesting Fun Facts
A worm has no arms, legs or eyes.
There are approximately 2,700 different kinds of worms
In one acre of land, there can be more than a million earthworms
The largest earthworm ever found was in South Africa and was measured 22 feet.
Charles Darwin spent 39 years studying earthworms
Worms are cold-blooded animals
Earthworms have the ability to replace or replicate lost segments.
Baby worms hatch from cocoons smaller than a grain of rice
Even though worms don't have eyes, they can sense light
If a worm's skin dries out, it will die
Worms are hermaphrodites. Each worm has both male and female organs.
Worms can eat their weight each day
Work Cited
- http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/facts/
- http://powerman486.tripod.com/info.html
- https://www.naturewatch.ca/english/wormwatch/programs/introduction.html
- http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG268/html/earthworms.htm
- http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110209/full/470161a.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9HHS1uPFSo
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Lumbricidae
- http://animals.howstuffworks.com/worms/earthworm-info.htm
- https://sites.google.com/site/drjerrodhunter/home/annelids
- http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rlenet/Earthworms.html
- http://www.transtutors.com/biology-homework-help/earthworm/excretory-system/
- http://facultyweb.brynmawrschool.org/UpperSchool/Science/Classes/AllBiology/bio/biotext/biowilson/2009-2010/HONORS/EOL%20Honors1/Euna%20Park/bodystructure.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LGOhTNPeyI
- http://www.sharenator.com/Supersize_the_nature/#img-24146
- https://sites.google.com/site/earthworm2222013/taxonomy-1