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Species
Lumbricus terrestris L.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Large volumes move through small spaces: common earthworm
Organisms, such as the common earthworm, move large volumes of matter through narrow spaces via flexible cylindrical structures.
"Flexible cylinders make body skeletons which have enormous advantages when it comes to moving around: a considerable volume of body can be passed through a small space -- hence the earthworm burrowing through the ground, or the snake slithering through tiny chinks in the rock. As a hollow tube, the cylinder can be used to conduct liquids in or out of small spaces. The mosquito sucks up blood through its cylindrical mouthparts. The elephant's trunk acts as a two-way conduit that can suck water in and blow it out with the force of a garden hose. Provided the constructive material of a cylinder is flexible enough, the cylinder can be bent round corners, or curled up tightly like a butterfly's proboscis which curls into a spiral when not in use." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:21)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.
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Rights holder/Author | (c) 2008-2009 The Biomimicry Institute |
Source | http://www.asknature.org/strategy/4c48cda5028087b65964b74e38fe2671 |
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There are 154 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.
Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.
See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 167
Specimens with Barcodes: 305
Species With Barcodes: 1
Common and widespread in Britain (1).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/earthworm/lumbricus-terrestris/ |
Not threatened at present.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/earthworm/lumbricus-terrestris/ |
No conservation action has been targeted at this species.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/earthworm/lumbricus-terrestris/ |
Sometimes known as the dew worm, squirrel tail, twachel or night crawler, it is common in gardens and parks. You may have come across it in a school biology dissection. It is also a favourite bait worm for anglers.Lumbricus terrestris was first described by Linneus in 1758 and is the largest UK species of earthworm.It is preyed upon by the invasive New Zealand flatworm, which has established itself on the west coast of Scotland and in Northern Ireland.Worms are critical for soil turnover and fertility. They eat dead plant material, and their burrows help aerate the soil and let water through easily. Worm casts (faeces) are rich in recycled plant nutrients that help maintain soil fertility.
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Rights holder/Author | Dr Dan Carpenter, Natural History Museum |
Source | No source database. |
Lumbricus terrestris is a large, reddish worm species widely distributed around the world (along with several other lumbricids). In some areas where it is an introduced species, some people consider it a serious pest for outcompeting native worms.
Through much of Europe, it is the largest naturally occurring species of earthworm, typically reaching 20 – 25 cm in length when extended (though in parts of southern Europe, the native species are much larger). In September 2012, a specimen was found in SW China measuring roughly 50 cm in length. It has an unusual habit of copulating on the surface at night, which makes it more visible than most other earthworms.
Common names[edit]
Because it is widely known, Lumbricus terrestris goes under a variety of common names. In Britain, it is primarily called the common earthworm or lob worm (though that name is also applied to a marine polychaete). In North America, the term nightcrawler (or vitalis) is also used. In Canada, it is also called the dew worm, or "Grandaddy Earthworm". In the rest of the world, most references are just to the scientific name, though with occasional reference to the above names.
Although this is not the most abundant earthworm, even in its native range, it is a very conspicuous and familiar earthworm species in garden and agricultural soils of the temperate zone, and is frequently seen on the surface, unlike most other earthworms. It is also used as the example earthworm for millions of biology students around the world, even in areas where the species does not exist. 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 color to L. terrestris.
Biology[edit]
L. terrestris is an anecic worm. That is, it forms temporary deep burrows and comes to the surface to feed, as opposed to burrowing through the soil for its food as most other earthworms do. An unusual habit of this species is to pull leaves into the mouth of its burrow where they partially decay before being eaten. While they generally feed on plant material, they have been observed feeding on dead insects and feces.
The natural lifespan of L. terrestris is unknown, though individuals have lived for six years in captivity.
In parts of Europe, notably the Atlantic fringe of northwestern Europe, it is now locally endangered due to predation by the New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) and the Australian flatworm (Australoplana sanguinea), two predatory flatworms accidentally introduced from New Zealand and Australia. These predators are very efficient earthworm eaters, being able to survive for lengthy periods with no food, so still persist even when their prey has dropped to unsustainably low populations. In some areas, this is having a seriously adverse effect on the soil structure and quality. The soil aeration and organic material mixing previously done by the earthworms has ceased in some areas.
As an invasive species in North America[edit]
L. terrestris is considered invasive in the north central United States. It does not do well in tilled fields because of pesticide exposure, physical injuries from farm equipment and a lack of nutrients.[1][2] It thrives in fence rows and woodlots and can lead to reductions in native herbaceous and tree regrowth.[3][4]
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lumbricus_terrestris&oldid=648563284 |
The importance of earthworms in the aeration and fertilisation of the soil is well known. They bring organic matter down into their burrows from the surface, and the familiar 'worm casts' consist of soil excreted by earthworms (3). Charles Darwin estimated that the population of earthworms moved 100 tonnes of soil per hectare in a year (5). Oxygen is taken in across the surface of the body, and the skin has to be kept moist to facilitate this process; earthworms only venture to the surface after rain or at night for this reason (3). All earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning that a single individual possesses both male and female reproductive organs, but self-fertilisation does not occur. On damp days in summer, earthworms surface in order to mate. During copulation, two individuals lie side by side, with their 'head' ends overlapping. The overlapping parts of their bodies become surrounded by a single mucous tube, which holds them closely together. They simultaneously secrete sperm, which passes along a groove in the body of each worm and enters a small sac in the partner. After mating, the worms separate, and the saddle begins to secrete a mucous cylinder into which eggs and sperm are released. The worm wriggles out of the cylinder, which then closes, forming a protective cocoon in which fertilisation and development of the eggs take place (3). Earthworms have been used for bait by anglers, and are an important food source for many species of mammals and birds. They have been used in folk medicine as a remedy for stomach problems and toothache (5). Contrary to popular belief, it is not true that cutting a worm in half will result in the regeneration of two seperate worms (4).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/earthworm/lumbricus-terrestris/ |
The common earthworm is an abundant species, which has an important role in the aeration and fertilisation of soil (3). It is the largest British earthworm (5) and has a reddish-brown back, a yellowish underside and an often prominent orange-red 'saddle' region known as the 'clitellum', close to the reproductive organs. Although this earthworm has a cylindrical body, the tail region may become flattened (2). The body is segmented, and has visible rings known as annuli; each segment bears small hairs known as 'chaetae', which help the worm to move through the soil (3).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/earthworm/lumbricus-terrestris/ |