Earthworm Facts

Earthworms are found in every type of soil on earth, unless they do not have enough moisture or food. However, they don't live in a place where there is too much moisture; and that is why, earthworms can be seen coming out in the rain. The main function of moisture is to help them respire. There are more than 2,700 types of earthworms in the world that are known, with sizes ranging from few inches to 2-3 meters, and in colors like purple, reddish brown, and bright blue. Red worms, night crawlers, gray worms, and tiger worms are some types of earthworms. They are also eaten by people and used as bait or enticement to catch fish.

What Do Earthworms Eat?
They primarily feed on decaying plants and other small organisms. They also obtain their food from the ground in which they burrow. They use large amounts of soil and small pebbles to extract the organic stuff that is needed as nutrition. They store all the nutrients in their gastric mill and deposit the waste material outside their burrow. According to a study, an earthworm takes in and pulverizes food, equal to its own weight, everyday.

World's Biggest Earthworm
The "Giant Gippsland" is the biggest earthworm, and is found in Australia. Its length is around 100 centimeters, and 2 centimeters in diameter. The color of their head is dark purple and that of its body is blue-gray. These earthworms live in deep burrows in the soil and need water for respiration. Normally, they don't leave their moist burrows. They have a comparatively longer lifespan and can take around 5 years to reach maturity. They breed during hotter months of the year and lay egg cocoons in their burrows. The newborns are around 20 centimeters long when they hatch after a period of 12 months.

How many Hearts does an Earthworm Have?
Earthworms do not have hearts but have an organ that carries out the functions of the heart and it is known as the 'aortic arch'. They have five aortic arches, and in between each one, there is a gland that helps the worm digest calcium which is absorbed after eating lot of dirt. Every 'aortic arch' functions in a similar way, so they cannot be differentiated. They help to pump blood around the body, and don't have any chambers. Earthworms also don't have lungs, and breathe through the skin which takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.

Are Earthworms Useful Creatures?
Earthworms are considered as good friends of farmers and gardeners and have proved to be very helpful in agriculture. They enable farmers in effective ploughing, manuring, and harrowing. They till the ground and create tunnels that allow air and moisture to pass through, which in turn, helps in the healthy growth of plants. Tunnels store water that can be used by plants and also allow the air to pass, which causes the bacteria to break down organic matter within the soil. After they digest their food, they produce excreta that is known as 'casting' or 'vermicompost', which functions as a good soil-conditioning material. It improves the porosity of soil and helps it retain moisture.

How Do Earthworms Reproduce?
The reproductive system of earthworms is totally different from other insects and animals. An earthworm can be a father and a mother, as every earthworm is a 'hermaphrodite', which means it has both male and female sex organs. It produces sperms as well as eggs. However, a worm can only fertilize its eggs by the sperms of another earthworm. They need to find sexual partners and obtain sperms from the each other.

Other Facts about Earthworms
Earthworms don't have eyes but are still able to sense light by their anterior. They can't bear light and are paralyzed if exposed to it for a longer time. A worm will die if its skin becomes dry.

These were some interesting facts on earthworms. Hereafter, if you get a chance to see one, just think about what all it can do.