Zoology

Class Annelida

Lumbricus terrestris (Earthworm)

Megascolides australis (Giant Gippsland Earthworm)

Driloleirus americanus (Giant Palouse Earthworm)

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Earthworm

•Lumbricus Terrestris
Phylum: Annelida
Family -Lumbricidae
Genus -Lumbricus
Species -Terrestris

•Detailed description of the organism

The common earthworm is reddish-gray-coloured. Earthworms’ bodies are made up of ring-like segments called annuli.

•Habitat

The earthworm likes to live in moist dirt and can be found in most places in the world. They are indigenous to Europe, but are now abundant in North America and western Asia.

•Diet

They consume soil, extracting nutrients from decomposing organic matter like leaves and roots.

•Zoological features

The ring-like segments, called annuli, that make up the earthworms' body are covered covered in setae, or small bristles, which the worm uses to move and burrow.

•Basic Growth and development cycles

Earthworms must mate to reproduce, even though one earthworm contains both male and female reproductive organs. Eggs are formed in a slime tube that slips over the worm's head and forms a cocoon or capsule that incubates them. Eggs develop into tiny worms in the cocoon and crawl out through one end when ready to emerge.

Fun Facts: Contrary to popular belief if you cut a earth worm in half it will not make two separate earth worms.

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Giant Gippsland Earthworm

Megascolides australis
    Phylum: Annelida
    Family: Megascolecidae
    Genus: Megascolides
    Species: Australis

•Detailed description of the organism
The Giant Gippsland Earthworm is usually about 3 feet long and 2 cm in diameter but can reach 9 feet long. They have a dark purple head and a blue-grey body.

•Habitat
The Giant Gippsland Earthworm lives in

Australia

. It can be found in the clay soils near river banks. They live near banks because they need water to respirate.

•Diet
It eats the roots of plants and on other materials found in the soil.

•Zoological features
The Gippsland Earthworm is a triploblastic protostome with a coelom, closed circulatory system, and bilaterial symmetry.

•Basic Growth and development cycles
They produce egg cocoons inside their burrows. When these cocoons hatch in 12 months the worms are already 20 cm long.

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Giant Palouse Earthworm

Driloleirus americanus
Phylum: Annelida
Family: Megascolecidae
Genus: Driloleirus
Species: americanus

•Detailed description of the organism

Giant Palouse Earthworms are very white, they look albino. They can grow up to 1 meter in length. This worm is said to give off a lily flower sent.

•Habitat

This worm is found in the bunch grass prairies of the Palouse region of the United States (Washington and Idaho). It can burrow 5 meters into the ground.

•Diet

During summer the worm burrows deep into the ground to conserve water. The soil in which the worm lives has abundant organic matter.

•Zoological features

The Giant Palouse has a clitellum. It can spit for self defense.

•Basic Growth and development cycles

Over the years the worm seems to have gotten smaller. The three most recent sighting have exposed worms that were half the size of what they are usually believed to grow. That means that evolution is taking place or that they are younger specimen.

Fun Facts: Not much is known about the Giant Palouse Earthworm and sighting of this worm are very rare.

This species is considered vulnerable.

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Interactive Activity:

Help the worm get to his hole home. Avoid the bird and human predators along the way.