Earthworm Scientific Name: Classification, Morphology, Anatomy, Types

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Nov 12, 2024 09:46 PM IST

An earthworm is a type of invertebrate belonging to the Annelida phylum, known for its long, segmented body and cylindrical shape. It lives in soil, where it burrows and feeds on organic matter, helping to improve soil fertility. Earthworms play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient recycling, making them beneficial for agriculture. They breathe through their moist skin and lack specialized respiratory organs. In this article, earthworm classification, habitat and distribution will be discussed. Earthworm is a topic of the chapter Animal Kingdom in Biology.

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What are Earthworms?
Scientific Classification
Habitat And Distribution

Earthworm Scientific Name: Classification, Morphology, Anatomy, Types

What are Earthworms?

This group of worms commonly known as “ecosystem engineers” are a vital component in supporting Earth’s ecosystems and soils. It also points out that some of these invertebrates dig through the soil and are effective in increasing the structure, aeration, and water-holding capacity of the soil. Thus, the soil is enriched by organic matter as earthworms decompose it and recycle nutrients that lead to the growth of healthy plants. They are also very instrumental in supporting productivity in agriculture and the ecosystem hence showing how they support health in the soil and the environment.

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Scientific Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Opisthopora
Family: Lumbricidae
Genus: Lumbricus
Species: Lumbricus terrestris

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Earthworm Scientific Name- Lumbricus terrestris

Habitat And Distribution

The habitat and distribution are described below-

Natural Habitat

Most earthworms live within a soil matrix and they exercise their duty in the aeration and decomposition of soil nutrients. It is revealing that they prefer habitats which have good water supply and well-aerated and comparatively forti-blend soils, these are the loamy or silty soils. Earthworms are distributed all over the world, both in the tropical and temperate regions but there are some restraints in the type of soil, climate and human influence.

Adaptations

Earthworms are highly active in burrowing in which they dig numerous tunnels that help to aerate the soil and facilitate plant root systems. These are invertebrates which have thin skin since they breathe through their skin and this skin must always be wet. To keep the specialised moisture ranges, earthworms reside in greater concentrations of the soil profile or the earth’s surface that has access to an adequate amount of decaying organic debris and moisture.

Earthworm

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the scientific name of the common earthworm?

The scientific name for the common earthworm is Lumbricus terrestris.

2. Why are earthworms important for soil health?

Earthworms form an essential component of soil health because they make burrows in the soil which help in opening the structure of the soil, thus assisting in root growth.

They are also involved in the breakup of organic substrates dropping out their nutrient-holding particles in the form of castings which improves soil fertility. They enhance nutrient status in the soil for plants and also enhance water stagnation in the soil.

3. How do earthworms reproduce?

Earthworms have the ability of copulation in which two worms lie in pairs in the V position and transfer sperms to one another. Following the copulation the clitellum secretes a slimy circular band which slips off the worm to enclose the developed eggs and the sperms to form a capsule. This is a cocoon in which the fertilized eggs hatch out into juvenile earthworms.

4. How do earthworms contribute to composting?

Earthworms play a very important role in composting since they help break the organic waste materials and speed up the process of decomposition. They digest the organic matter and leave a casting which enhances the nutrient content in compost.

Earthworms play the following functions in compost production Due to the earthworm activity, microbial ratings rise hence increasing the quality and fertility of compost.

5. What do earthworms eat?

Casts are made up of soil materials and particles of vegetable mould that earthworms ingest from the soil including dead leaves and decomposing plant matter. They also eat soil, which goes through their body and comes out as small black balls called “casts. ”