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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. In classical systems, they were in the order of Opisthopora since the male pores opened posterior to the female pores, although the ...
In about two to three weeks, the newborn worms will hatch and emerge from the cocoon into the soil. This cycle of reproduction can happen every week to 10 days, another reason earthworm populations can grow so quickly [source: Barrett]. Earthworms can also reproduce themselves if need be. They can regenerate new segments if they lose a few.
The earthworm life cycle, like many others, starts with an egg. Within the egg, a young earthworm develops until it is ready to hatch. The egg is encased in an egg casing called a cocoon. The number of eggs within one cocoon can vary between species, ranging between 1 and 20 from earthworm species in the family Lumbricidae (but most species ...
Worms are ‘hermaphrodites’ which means they have both male and female reproductive organs. When a worm is about 4 – 6 weeks old, a white band forms around their anterior (head). This is called a ‘clitellum’. The clitellum’ has both sets of organs in it, which means the worm is neither male or female, but both.
Nov 22, 2023 · Relatively close to the head, worms have a thickened glandular structure that secretes a slimy sac in which the eggs are stored. This is called the clitellum. The clitellum forms a ring around the worm and is filled with an albuminous fluid. After mating, separation and distancing, the worm will work the clitellum down their body.
Earthworms are hermaphrodites possessing both male and female reproductive organs. However, they don’t self-fertilize. Instead, two worms align opposite to each other to exchange sperm. Post exchange, each worm forms a collar-like clitellum around its body. This clitellum, filled with eggs and sperm, forms a cocoon when it’s pulled off.
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Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning an individual worm has both male and female reproductive organs. Earthworm mating typically occurs after it has rained and the ground is wet. They emerge from the soil and jut out their anterior end. They wait for another earthworm to point in the opposite direction and then breed.
