What are some common characteristics of earthworms?

The little earthworm is hugely important for agriculture. It plays a large role in keeping soil productive, facilitating aeration, compaction and water infiltration and producing organic matter to increase crop growth. read more

Earthworms are also called night crawlers because they burrow down in the ground during the day and come above ground at night to feed. An earthworm has a small brain, a digestive system, a reproductive system and a circulatory system with five pairs of hearts. Earthworms breathe through their skin instead of with lungs. read more

Some species of earthworm burrow, and their mucus creates a binding substance to stop the walls of their burrow caving in. In some species of earthworm, such as the Octochaetus multiporus, which is native to New Zealand, the mucus may also protect it from bacteria in the soil. read more

EarthWorms (Lumbricus terrestris) Earth Worm Characteristics. Earthworms are made up of many small segments known as ‘annuli’. These annuli are ridged and covered in minute hairs that grip the soil allowing the worm to move as it contracts its muscles. At about a third of the worms length is a smooth band known as the clitellum. read more