Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Annelida
Class: Oligocheata
Genus: Pheretima
Species: posthuma
Common name: earthworm.

Culture of earthworm: vermiculture (to get vermicompost or manure)

Life span of earthworms is: 4-9 years

Distribution: Cosmopolitan (world widely distributed)

Habitat: Terrestrial, burrowing, free living, found in dark and moist place

Habit: Solitary, cold blooded, nocturnal, detritivourous (feed on dead decaying debris and organic matters etc)

Size: 15 to 20 cm length and 0.3 to 0.5 cm thick

EXTERNAL STRUCTURE

Colour:
 The dorsal surface of earthworm is darker than ventral.
 Dark brown (clay) color of body is due to the pigment porphyrin.
 The porphyrin pigment protects the body of earthworm from harmful rays of sunlight.

Segmentation:
 Body of earthworm is meta-merically segmented into 100- 120 segments.
 Segments are also called somites or metameres.
 Metamerism or Meta-meric segmentation can be defined as division of body both externally by
deep groove called annulus (annuli) and internally by septum (septa).

Peristomium:
 It is the 1st segment of the body. It consists of semi-circular mouth which is covered with hood like
structure called prostomium.
Notes of MR Page 1
 Function: it helps in boring the soil and helps in ingestion of food.

Pygidium:
 It is the last segment of the body. It consists of anus.
 Function: it helps to throw out the undigested waste materials from anus in the form of worm cast.

Clitellum:
 Clitellum is a thick, muscular, glandular, collar like tissue.
 In earthworm, clitellum is found between 14 th to 16th segments.
 On the basis of clitellum, body of earthworm is divided into 3 regions:
1. Pre-clitellar region: it extends from 1st to 13th segments.
2. Clitellar regions: it extends from 14th to 16th segments.
3. Post-clitellar regions: it extends from 17th to last segments.
 Function: fertilization and development of embryo takes place in cocoon.

Appendages or locomotary organ:

 Setae (S. seta) are the locomotary organs of earthworm.
 Setae are a ring of tiny, ciliated, curved, yellow S shaped bristles which are present on the ventral
segments of earthworm.
 Setae are found in all segments except 1 st, last and clitellar region (14th, 15th and 16th segment).
 Each segment contains 80-120 setae.
 Setae are embedded in the setal sac. Its central part is thick and bulbous known as nodulus.
 Setae move with the help of retractor and protractor muscles.
 A setae is divided into 3 parts:
a) Neck
b) Nodulus
c) Base
 The arrangement of setae in each segment is called peri-chaetine arrangement.

Diagram of setae

EXTERNAL APERATURES OF EARTHWORM:

1. Peristomium:
It is the 1st segment of the body. It consists of semi-circular mouth which is covered with hood like
structure called prostomium.
Function: it helps to bore the soil.

Notes of MR Page 2
2. Pygidium:
It is the last segment of the body. It consists of anus.
Function: it helps to throw out the undigested waste materials called worm cast.

3. Genital pores or gono-pores:

 Female genital pore: it is a single pore situated ventrally on the 14 segment.
Function: it helps to discharge ova.
 Male genital pores: it is a pair of pores situated ventrally on the 18 th segment.
Function: it helps to discharge sperms.

4. Genital papillae
These are two pairs of conical outgrowth having pore on the ventral surface of 17 th and 19th segment
(one pair in each segment).
Function: a sticky fluid is secreted from this pore, which helps in the attachment of two earthworms
during copulation.
5. Spermathecal pores:
These are 4 pairs of small pores, found ventro-laterally in between 5th and 6th, 6th and 7th, 7th and 8th,
8th and 9th segments (one pair in each segment).
Function: it help to receive sperm from partner earthworm during copulation.

6. Nephridiopores
A large number of very small pores are found to scattered irregularly all over the body surface except
first two segments.
Function: it helps to throw out the metabolic wastes from the body.

7. Dorsal pores:
These are the opening present at mid dorsal line behind the 12th segment except the last segment.
Function: A milky white coelomic fluid comes out from these pores which keep the skin moist for
respiration (cutaneous), gives protection from bacteria and act as hydraulic skeleton.

DIGESTION SYSTEM:
The process of breaking down of complex food material into simple form with the help of digestive
enzymes is called digestion. The organs which are associated with digestion process are called
digestive system.

Notes of MR Page 3
The digestive system of earthworm is well developed. It consist of
A. Alimentary canal
B. Digestive glands

Alimentary canal
It is straight tube which starts from mouth and end into anus. It consists of following parts.
1. Mouth: It is a small semi-circular opening on the peristomium.
Segment: it lies in 1st segment
Function: It helps in ingestion of food.

2. Buccal chamber: Mouth opens into short and protrusible chamber called buccal chamber.
Segment: It lies from Ist to 3rd segment.
Function: it helps to pass the food to pharynx

3. Pharnyx: It is a highly muscular, pear shaped chamber.

It is internally divided into 2 chambers by horizontal shelves.
i. Dorsal salivary chamber
ii. Ventral conducting chamber
Dorsal salivary chamber:
It consists of salivary glands which consist of chromophill cells. Chromophill cells secrete saliva (for
lubrication of food) and proteolytic enzymes (for protein digestion).

Conducting chamber:
It consists of the thick mass of muscular strands which help to contract and relax the lumen of
pharynx. Thus, the pharynx acts as sucking and pumping organ during feeding.

Notes of MR Page 4
Segment: pharynx lies in 3rd to 4th segment.
Function: it helps in lubrication of food and protein digestion.

4. Oesophagus
It is a narrow tube which acts as food pipe.
Segment: It extends from 5th to 7th segment.
Function: helps to pass the food.
5.
Gizzard
It is a bulb like, oval, hard, thick walled and highly muscular organ.
Wall of gizzard is made up of outer circular muscles, middle epithelium and innermost tough cuticle.
Gizzard grinds the food into fine particles. Hence, gizzard is called as grinding organ.
Segment: It lies in the 8th to 9th segment.
Function: Gizzard helps in grinding (mastication) of food particle.

Diagram??/

6. Stomach
It is a short narrow tube.
Its inner wall consists of glandular cells which secrete proteolytic enzymes for protein digestion. There
are calciferous glands which neutralize the acidity of food and excrete the calcite.
Segment: It lies in 9th - 14th segment.
Function: it helps in protein digestion, and neutralizes the acidity of food.

7. Intestine
It is a longest, widest and thin walled tube. Inner wall of intestine consist of glandular cells and many
finger like projections called villi and typhlosole.
The glandular cells secrete proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic enzymes for digestion of protein,
carbohydrates and lipid respectively. While the villi and typhlosole help in increasing the surface area
for the absorption of digested food.

 Typhlosole
Some of the villi which are larger and longer in size than other are called as typhlosole. Typhlosole is
found between 26th to last segment except posterior 23 th or 25th segment in front of anus. The
typhlosole increases the surface area for absorption of digested food.

Notes of MR Page 5
Segment: Intestine extends from 15th to last segment.
Function: helps in complete digestion and absorption of food.

Typhlosole divides the intestine into 3 parts.

a. Pre-typhlosolar region
It extends from 15th to 26th segment. Its inner wall contains glandular cells and villi but no typhlosole.
 Intestinal caeca
In the 26th segment of pre typhlosolar region, it gives out of a pair of short and conical out growth
called intestinal caeca which extend upto 22 nd segment.
Function: This caeca secretes amylolytic enzyme for the digestion of starch.

b. Typhlosolar region
It extends from 26th to the last segment except posterior 23 th or 25th segment infront of anus. Its inner
wall contains glandular cells, villi and typhlosole. It is the major site of absorption of food.

c. Post- typhlosolar region

It extends from posterior 23 or 25 segments in front of anus. It is also known as rectum. It has no
glandular cells, villi and typhlosole.

8. Anus
It is small opening at last segment.
Segment: lies in last segment.
Function: helps in egestion of undigested food in the form of worm caste.

2. Digestive gland: The digestive glands of earthworm do not have separate existence. However,
some parts of alimentary canal have glandular cells. These are:
 In pharynx: it secretes proteolytic enzymes for protein digestion.
 In stomach: it secretes proteolytic enzymes for protein digestion
 In intestine: it secretes proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic enzymes for digestion of protein,
carbohydrates and lipid respectively.
 Intestinal cacea: secretes amylolytic enzyme for the starch digestion

EXCRETORY SYSTEM IN EARTHWORM

The process of removing the metabolic wastes from the body is called excretion.
The organs which are associated with excretion process are called excretory system.

In earthworm, excretion takes place by microscopic and coiled tubes called nephridia. The nephridia
are found in the entire body segment except first 3 segments.

In earthworm, nepridia are of three types:-

1. Septal nephridia
2. Pharyngeal nephridia
3. Integumentary nephridia

Notes of MR Page 6
 A. Septal nephridia:
 These are largest and well developed nephridia.
 These are present on septum behind 15 th to last segment.
 Each septum bears 80-100 septal nephridia.
 The septal nephridia are entero nephric or endo-nephric because it discharges the excretory
material into intestine (alimentary canal).

Structure of Septal nephridia

Each septal nephridia consist of 3 parts:

A. Nephro-stome: it is ciliated, rounded structure. It is connected to the coelom by a pore called mouth.
The mouth is surrounded by upper and lower lips.

Notes of MR Page 7
 The upper lip is larger and made up of a central cell and 8- 9 marginal cell. Lower lip is smaller and
made up of 4-5 compact cells. All the cells are ciliated. The nephro-stome joins the main body of
nephridia through neck.
B. Main body: The main body consists of two part:-
 *Straight lobe: it is straight tube. The length of the straight lobe is just half of twisted lobe.
 *Twisted lobe: it is coiled tube. It consists of 2 parts i.e. upper apical part and lower basal part.
Further twisted loop has two limbs:
i. Distal limb: it is connected to the straight lobe.
ii. Proximal limb: connected to the neck and terminal duct.
There are 4 parallel nephridial tubules within straight lobe, 3 within basal part and 2 within apical part
of twisted loop.
C. Terminal duct: It is short narrow and ciliated tube. The terminal duct opens into alimentary canal.

2. Pharyngeal nephridia:
 There are three pairs of tufts of pharyngeal nephridia having tubules without nephro-stome.
 Each tuff contains 100s of nephridia.
 It is found in 4th, 5th and 6th segments.
 Ducts from 4th and 5th segments open to the pharynx while that of 6 th segment opens into the
buccal chamber
 Pharyngeal nephridia are endo-nephric or entero- nephric, because it discharges the excretory
material into the intestine (alimentary canal).

3. Integumentary nephridia:
 These are smallest, microscopic, V shaped nephridia having tubules without nephro-stome.
 These are scattered on the entire body surface except 1st -3 segments.
 There are 200-250 integumentary nephridia found in each segment but in clitellar segment their
number increases to about 2000-2500. So clitellar region is called “Forest Of Nephridia”.
 Integumentary nepridia are exo-nephric or ecto nephric, because it discharges the excretory
material directly outside the body surface through nephridio-pores.

NERVOUS SYSTEM OF EARTHWORM

The system associated with reception, conduction and co-ordination of stimuli is called nervous
system.

Notes of MR Page 8
Nervous system of earthworm is well developed. It includes 3 parts. They are:
1. Central nervous system
It includes nerve ring and ventral nerve cord
a. Nerve ring (brain ring or nerve collar)
It is a ring like structure. It is situated in 3 rd to 4th segment. It consists of following parts:
i: Brain (cerebral ganglia):
It is a small bi-lobed structure. It is formed by the fusion of two supra-pharyngeal ganglia. It is situated
on the 3rd segment.
ii. Circum pharyngeal connective:
From both lateral side of brain, a short nerves called cirum-pharyngeal connective arise which
encircles the pharynx.
iii. Sub-pharyngeal ganglion:
It is formed by the fusion of a pair of circum pharyngeal connective at 4 th segment.

b. Ventral nerve cord

It arises from the sub-pharyngeal ganglion and extends from 5th to last segment. It gives rises to
segmental ganglion is each segment.

2. Peripheral nervous system

It includes all the nerves which arise from central nerve system. They are:-
a. From brain: 8 to 10 pairs of nerves arises from brain and innervates into the prostomium, Buccal
chamber and pharynx.
b. From circum-pharyngeal connective: 2 pairs of nerves arises and innervates into peri-stomium
and buccal chamber.
c. From sub-pharyngeal gangolion: 3 pairs of nerve are arises and innervates into 2nd, 3rd and 4th
segment (one pair in each).
d. From each segmental ganglion: 2 pairs of nerves arise and innervates into respective segments.
e. From ventral nerve cord: 1 pairs of nerves arise and innervates into respective segments.

3. Autonomic nervous system:

It includes all the nerves plexus (network) which are found below the skin, within the muscles of body
wall and in the wall of alimentary canal.

Notes of MR Page 9
 REPRODUTION SYSTEM
 Earthworm is hermaphrodite (bisexual) animal because both male and female reproductive
organs are found in single individual.
 Self fertilization is not possible in earthworm because of prot-androus nature.
 Prot-androus: it can be defined as male gametes (sperms) mature earlier than female
gametes (ova or eggs).

Male reproductive organ

In earthworm, the male reproductive system consists of following parts:
1. Testes:
 Structure: These are small, white coloured, 4-8 fingers like processes.
 Number: 2 in pairs.
 Segment: They are situated in 10th and 11th segment.
 Function: It helps to produce spermato-gonia (sperm mother cells).

2. Testes sacs:
 Structure: These are sac like, white coloured structure.
 Number: 1 in pair.
 Segment: These are found in 10th and 11thsegment.
 Function: It encloses the testes and spermatic funnels.

3. Seminal vesicles:
 Structure: These are oval shaped structures.
 Number: 2 in pairs.
 Segment: They are situated in 11th and 12th segment. Seminal vesicles of 11th segment are
smaller than that of 12th segment.

Notes of MR Page 10
 Function: It helps in storage and maturation of spermatogonia into sperms.

4. Spermatic funnel:
 Structure: These are ciliated, funnel like structure.
 Number: 2 in pairs.
 Segment: They are situated in 10th and 11th segment.
 Function: it helps to catch the sperms.

5. Vasa deferentia:
 Structure: These are thin ducts which arise from each spermatic funnel.
 Number: 2 in pairs.
 Segment: It extends from 11th to 18th segments
 Function: It passes the sperms upto the 18th segment.

6. Prostate glands:
 Structure: It is large and irregular glands.
From each prostate gland, a prostatic duct arises which unite with vasa deferentia to form
common prostatic and spermatic duct.
 Number: 1 in pair.
 Segment: They are situated between 17th to 21th segments.
 Function: It secretes the fluid which activates the sperms.

7. Accessory glands:
 Structure: These are small, round glands.
 Number: 2 in pairs.
 Segment: They are situated in 17th and 19th segment.
 Function: It secretes sticky fluid which helps in attachment of two earthworms during copulation.

Female reproductive system

In earthworm, female reproductive system consists following part:
1. Ovary:
 Structure: There are small, white coloured fingers like processes.
 Number: 1 in pair.
 Segment: They are found in between 12th and 13th segment.
 Function: they help to produce ova.

2. Ovi-ducal funnel:
 Structure: these are ciliated funnel like structures.
 Number: 1 in pair.
 Segment: They are found in 13th segments
 Function: it helps to catch the ova.

3. Oviduct:
 Structure: These are short ducts which unite to form common ovi-duct.
 Number: 1 in pair.
 Segment: They are found in 13th to 14th segments
 Function: it helps to pass the ova outside through female genital pore.

4. Spermathecae:

Notes of MR Page 11
 Structure: These are small, sac like structures. Each spermatheca has two chambers, the smaller
is called diverticulum and larger is called ampulla.
 Number: 4 in pairs.
 Segment: These are situated in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th segment.
 Function: it helps to store the sperms during copulation

COPULATION
It is process in which sperms get exchanged between two earthworms. This process occurs during
rainy season at morning time.
During copulation, two earthworms come in contact along with their ventral surface, so that anterior
ends of both are in opposite direction. In this position, male genital pores of one face the
spermathecal pores of another earthworm. Then, conical projections are arises from male genital
pores, which are inserted into the spermathecal pores of another earthworm. Then sperms are
exchanged and stored in spermathecea.
The copulation lasts for about an hour. Then, both earthworms get separated from each other and
returns to burrow.

FORMATION OF COCOON OR OOTHECA

Cocoon formation takes place after copulation when ovaries get mature. During this process, three
kinds of glands of clitellar segments get activated. They are:
1. Unicellular mucous glands
2. Cocoon secreting glands:
3. Albumen glands
Firstly, mucous gland secretes mucus. Then, coccon secreting gland secretes gelatinous fluid to form
membranous girdle around clitellum which soon harden in air to form tough tube called cocoon.
Finally, albumen glands secrete albumen between girdles to nourish the gametes.
Then, eggs are deposited in the cocoon through female genital pores. Now, earthworm wriggles
behind, so that the cocoon slips anteriorly to receive sperms from spermatheca. Finally the cocoon
slips out in the soil. Soon its two ends closes up due to elasticity to form cocoon or ootheca
Fertilization takes place inside the cocoon. A cocoon may contain many fertilized eggs but only one
zygote develops into an embryo. The cocoon is oval (2X1.5 mm), light yellow coloured structure
having closed ends.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF EARTHWORM

Useful effects:
1. Earthworm is called natural plough because it makes the burrow in soil and help in penetration of
air and moisture.
2. Worm-casts of earthworm act as manure, which increases the soil fertility

Notes of MR Page 12
3. It is used as baits for fishing.
4. It is used as medicines in Ayurvedic therapy.
5. It is used in science laboratories.
6. It is used as food in many countries

Harmful effects:
1. Burrows of earthworm leads to soil erosion.
2. Some species of earthworm act as ectoparasite.
3. Some species of earthworm damage the various plants like paddy etc.

Notes of MR Page 13