Earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Annelida Class:Oligochaeta Subclass:Haplotaxida Order:Megadrilacea Suborder:Lumbricina + Moniligastrida Location: These worms originated in Europe and are now found in Asia and North America. Habitat Description: It lives in the soil which is dark, cool and slightly damp. It can be under the rocks, fallen logs, and dead leaves as long as it is dark and damp. Earthworms don’t like sunlight. Fun Facts: 1)Segmented worms have a coelom lined with mesoderm and is divided by segments called metameres. 2) They have a one-way digestive tract. 3) They have a well-developed brain and sensory organs. 4) Most have external bristles, setae, which help with movement. 5) They grow only to be 7 to 8 centimeters in length, but some members of this species have been known to grow to a serpentine 14 inches 6) An earthworm can eat up to one third its body weight in a day. 7)They are hermaphroditic but do not self-fertilize. When mating, each worm forms a lemon-shaped cocoon out of a liquid secreted from its clitellum. The sperm and egg cells are deposited inside the cocoon, and it is buried. After a two- to four-week gestation period, the baby worms emerge. These worms are not endangered.They are commonly used by humans for fishing. Humans also cause soil pollution. Citations: http://www.iucnredlist.org http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/earthworm/ http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwwwbio200.nsm.buffalo.edu%2Flabs%2Ftutor%2Fearthworm%2F&ei=rjtmVIO7CseYyATjmIFA&bvm=bv.79142246,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNH_N1FOOCLu6Aj1tkBnJedjw2xuVw&ust=1416072404937558 |