Earthworm

Earthworm is the common reference for the larger members of the Oligochaeta (which is either a class or subclass depending on the author) in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening to the outside of body posterior to the female pores, even though the male segments are anterior to the female. Cladistic studies have supported placing them instead in the Haplotaxida, which also includes the family Haplotaxidae. Folk names for earthworm include "dew-worm"?"night crawler" and "angleworm."

Overview

There are over 2,200 species known worldwide, existing everywhere but Arctic and arid climates. They range in size from two centimeters (less than one inch) to over three meters (almost ten feet) in the Giant Gippsland Earthworm. Amongst the main earthworm species commonly found in the soil are the red coloured Lumbricus terrestris, which dwells close to and leaves its deposits on the surface, whilst the greyish blue Allolobophora caliginosa is deeper burrowing.

Related Topics:
Arctic - Arid - Climate - Giant Gippsland Earthworm - Lumbricus terrestris - Allolobophora caliginosa

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In temperate zone areas, the most commonly seen earthworms are lumbricids (Lumbricidae), mostly due to the recent rapid spread of a relatively small number of European species, but there are several other families, e.g. Megascolecidae, Sparganophilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Haplotaxidae, and others. These other families are often very different from the lumbricids in behavior, physiology and habitat.

Related Topics:
Lumbricidae - Megascolecidae - Sparganophilidae - Glossoscolecidae - Haplotaxidae - Behavior - Physiology - Habitat

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