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An earthworm is a soil-dwelling terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. The term is the common name for the largest members of the class (or subclass , depending on the author) Oligochaeta .
Oligochaetes are well-segmented worms and most have a spacious body cavity (coelom) used as a hydroskeleton.They range in length from less than 0.5 mm (0.02 in) up to 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 ft) in the 'giant' species such as the giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis) and the Mekong worm (Amynthas mekongianus).
Allolobophora chlorotica (commonly known as the green worm) [3] is a species of earthworm that feeds and lives in soil. This species stands out from other earthworms due to the presence of three pairs of sucker-like discs on the underside of the clitellum.
In different earthworm families, the typhlosole appears to have multiple origins. The Lumbricidae , for example, have a typhlosole which is an infolding of all layers of the intestine wall, whereas in some other families (e.g. Megascolecidae ), it is an infolding of only the inner layer, and in many earthworms it is absent.
There are over 22,000 living annelid species, [6] [7] ranging in size from microscopic to the Australian giant Gippsland earthworm and Amynthas mekongianus, which can both grow up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) long [7] [8] [9] to the largest annelid, Microchaetus rappi which can grow up to 6.7 m (22 ft).
However, 'earthworm' can be a source of confusion since, in most of the world, other species are more typical. For example, through much of the unirrigated temperate areas of the world, the "common earthworm" is actually Aporrectodea (=Allolobophora) trapezoides, which in those areas is a similar size and dark colour to L. terrestris.
Original – Diagram of the head of an earthworm including most of its major organs Reason Meets all of the FP criteria for SVG diagrams, including being freely licensed Articles in which this image appears Earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris FP category for this image Wikipedia:Featured pictures/Sciences/Biology Creator KDS4444
Eisenia fetida, known under various common names such as manure worm, [2] redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red wiggler worm, etc., is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. These worms thrive in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure. They are epigean, rarely found in soil.