Phylum: Annelida

Class: Oligocheata
Genus: Pheretima
Species: posthuma
Common Name: earthworm
Habit and Habitat:
Earthworm is a burrowing animal usually live inside the soil
surface in solitary. It burrows by ingesting soil from the
mouth and liberate out from the anus on the soil surface as
castings.
# It feeds upon the dry or green leaves, dead materials, insect
larvae, eggs, etc.
# Usually earthworm is widely distributed in fertile or loam
soil which burrow at the depth of about 6″ inches.
# During dry season. It can grow at the depth pf 1m but
during rainy season, found on the soil surface.
# Earthworm is commonly called friend of farmer or natural
plough.
# the distribution of earthworm is almost cosmopolitan
found from the sea level up to the altitude of 3000m.
BODY STRUCTURE:
1. Long, cylindrical, almost pointed at the both ends,
metamerically segmented.
2. Number of segment varies between 100-120, each segment
is also called somite or metamere and divisible into dorsal,
ventral, anterior and posterior regions.
3. Dorsal portion is dark in colour due to deposition of skin
pigment called Porphyrin.
4. Anterior portion is very close to clittellum and posterior
region is far from the clittellum.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
It includes Digestive tract or Alimentary canal or Gut.
Fig: Digestive system

DIGESTIVE TRACT:
It completes from anterior mouth or prostomium up to
posterior anus includes buccal cavity pharynx, oesophagus,
stomach and intestine.
The mouth is highly elastic can protrude out and protrude in
surrounded by 1st body segment acting as lips called
peristomium. Mouth follows short buccal cavity lies within
2nd and 3rd body segments.Buccal cavity is divisible into
upper semi circular dorsal chamber. When this chamber gets
extended size of buccal cavity becomes larger.
Buccal cavity follows another short phyarynx lies in the
4th,5th, and 6th segments of the body marked by pharyngeal
mass on the dorsal pharynx. This mass secrete saliva or mucin
and proteolytic enzyme. Due to heavy pharyngeal mass,
pharynx is also depressed into upper, dorsal and lower ventral
chambers separated by horizontal shelve. The wall of the
dorsal chamber has ciliated epithillium cells which produces
ciliatary current help in the collecton of enzyme. The collected
saliva and enzyme 1st diffuse into dorsal chamber. So it is also
called salivary chamber.
Pharynx follows short oesophagus in 7th, 8th segment of the
body. In the 8th or 8/9th segment modifies into hard and oval
gizzard surrounded by numerous circular muscles. The
internal wall is also covered by hard cuticle layer. The
contraction and relaxation of circular muscles easily
masticate food and soil. Thus acting as grinding organ.
Gizzard follows short simple tube stomach extending from
9th upto 14th body segments. The internal wall of the stomach
also secrete proteolytic enzyme.
 Stomach follows the longest portion of the alimentary canal
intestine extending from 15th to last but one segment of the
body. It has large diameter and looks brownish in colouration.
Structurally and functionally intestine is divisible into three
regions;
1. Pre-typhlosolar region or digestive region
2. Typhlosolar region or Absorption region
3. Post- typhlosolar region or solar region
At last post-typhlosolar region opens to posterior anus
through which release out food waste and soil particles in the
form of castings.

PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION: The physiology of

digestion includes ingestion, digestion,absorption and
egestion. If the food is green, first of all take into their burrow
then mix with mucins secreted by the skin which makes
colourless food after that including other foods with soil
ingest through mouth follows buccal cavity and pharynx.
Gizzard: In gizzard, completely powdered making more easy.
The main significant of ingesting soil is only to produce more
friction during breaking down of food.
Stomach:In stomach ones more protein is partially digest as
in the pharynx.In the pre-typhlosolar region, food is
completely digested as follows;Enzymes from the wall of the
intestine.
a) Enzyme trypase – react upon protein which convert into
peptones and finally digest into amino acid.
b) Enzyme lipase – react upon fat acid which convert into
fatty acid and glycerol.
c) Enzyme amylase – react upon carbohydrate convert into
sugar and finally into glucose or fuctose.
After almost digestion, digested foods including undigested
foods soil posses over to tryphlosolar region in which all the
digested food molecules are absorbed by typhlosole and
circulate through blood vascular system.Remaining portion of
food and soil passes over to post typhlosolar region for
storage. At last such substances eject out from the anus in the
form of castings.
EXCRETORY SYSTEM:
Nephridia: Nephridia are the excretory organ of earthworm
which are very minute, coiled, eliminate waste either outside
the skin or into the alimentary canal.On the basis of structure
and position, nephridia is of following types:-
1. Integumentary Nephridia – in the skin
2. Pharyngeal Nephridia- only in the pharynx
3. Septal or Intentine or typical Nephridia – only in the
intestine

On the basis of elimination

1. Exo-nephric nephridia e.g integumentary nephridia
2. Endo-nephric nephridia e.g pharyngeal + septal

In the pharynx good mix with saliva and treat by proteolytic

enzyme which partially digest protein into peptones or
peptides, therefore process of digestion start from the
pharynx.
1. Integumentary nephridia:
The nephridia are very minute, coiled attached directly in the
skin distributed from second segment upto last but one
segment. Each segment has the numbers 200-250 but in the
clitellum region has 2000-2500 numbers. Single nephridium
does not possess mouth or nephrostone, eliminate nitrogen
waste directly outside the skin. Thus, it is exo-nephric
nephridium.

2. Pharyngeal nephridia:
They are only found in the pharynx i.e. in 4th, 5th and 6th
segments.
Each segment hasone pair of cluster of nephridium whose
eliminating ducts opens directly in the buccal cavity and
pharynx. 6th pharyngeal nephridia eliminate in 2nd segment(
buccal cavity). 5th pharyngeal nephridia eliminate in
3rd segment(buccal cavity). 4th pharyngeal nephridia eliminate
in 4th segment (pharynx). Hence it is a type of endo- nephridic
nephridia.

3. Septal nephridia:
They are commonly called intestinal nephridia because only
found in the intestinal region. It is also called as typical
nephridia because size of nephridia is larger and eliminate
maximum amount of nitrogen waste incompare to
integumentary and pharyngeal nephridia. All the necessary
regions are also present in this nephridium.
In each segment, number of nephridia varies between 80-100
i.e each septum possess 40-50 in number. Each septal
nephridium consists of mouth and main body. Mouth is
ciliated produces ciliary current which help in the selection of
nitrogen waste in the body coelomic fluid. Mouth or
nephrostom connected to terminal duct due to short neck.
Main body comprises of almost flat colourless straight lobe
follows twisted loops which number varies between 6-10
always last loop is called terminal loop. Each twisted loop is
made of distal loop, continuation of terminal duct.
Terminal ducts of septal nephridia opens separately into
septal excretory ducts, again septal excretory ducts of each
segment finally opens to supra intestinal excretory ducts.
From these duct, waste diffuses into the intestine which
eliminate with castings. Hence septal nephridia are also the
type of endo nephric nephridium.

Fig: Different types of Nephridia.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM:
Earthworm is a hermaphrodite animal because male and
female reproductive organs are both found in the single
animal even then there is no self fertilization always cross
fertilization because of protandrous character.

Male reproductive organ:

1. Two pairs of testes lies in the 10th and 11th segment.
2. Two pairs of seminal vesicles lies in the 11th and 12 th
segment.
3. Two pairs of vasadeferentia ducts 12th segment to
18th segment.
4. Two testis sacs – 10th and 11th segments.
5. Two prostate glands extend from 17th to 21st or 22nd.
6. Two common ducts or copulatory organics pseudopenis in
18th segments.
7. Two male genital opening in 18th segments.
8. Two pairs of accessory glands each pair in 17th and
19th segments.
Female reproductive organ :
1. One pair of ovary lies in 13th segments.
2. Two oviducts in 13/14 segments
3. Single female genital opening in 14th segment.
4. Four pairs of spermathecae, each pair in 6th, 7th, 8th and
9th segment.
5. Two pairs of spermaducal funnels in 11th and
12th segments.
Male reproductive organ:
Testes each pair lies in the 10th and 11th segments.
Manufacture spermatozoa by the process of spermatogenesis.
Spermatozoa swims actively in the testis fluid present in the
testis sac of 10th and 11thsegments. The 10thtestis deposits its
spermatozoa in 11th seminal vesicles. 11thtestes deposits its
spermatozoa in 12th seminal vesicles. These seminal vesicles
provide nourishment till maturity. After the maturation, a
spermatozoon again swims back in the testis fluid. Later
collect by two pairs of spermaducal funnel of 10th and
11th segments. Spermaducal funnels follows 2 pairs of vasa
deferentia duts extending from 12th to 18thsegments. These
ducts carry away and restore spermatozoa in the respective
prostate glands.
There are two prostate glands looks colourless, leaf life,
almost flat extending from 17th to 20th or 21st segment.
Prostate gland provides nourishment till copulation. Vasa
deferentia ducts and internal prostate ducts or copulatory
organ or pseudo penis which opens through male opening of
the 18th segment.
Beside these male organs also possess two pairs of accessory
glands. Each pair is 17th and 19th segment serve as adhesive
organs because their secretion help during copulation.

Fig: Male reproductive organ.

Female reproductive organ:
Primary sex ovary is locate in 13th septum possess finger like
projections containing different stages of eggs. Eggs within
the ovary develop by oogenesis process. At maturation wall of
the ovary rupture release eggs in the body cavity which are
collect by 1 pair of oviducal funnel of 13th segment. It follows
oviduct in 13th, 14thsegments and opens commonly in the
14th segments as female genital opening.
There are four pairs of spermathecae, each pair lies in the 6th,
7th, 8th and 9th segments. Each spermathecae has larger sac
ampulla for nourishment and small sac diverticulum which
restore sperms collected at the time of copulation. Spermatica
although related with the collection of sperm even then kept
in the female reproductive organs because of receiver bag.

Fig: Praithima, ovary

Copulation:
During breeding season or rainy season at night earthworms
come out from their burrows on the surface, they select their
partners by themselves and temporary fuses in ventral to
ventral position in head to tail arrangement. After the fusion,
common ducts of one penetrate into the one pair of
spermathecal of the other. After that deposit sperm in the
diverticulum. Hence the main significance of copulation is to
exchange sperm in between the two animals. Ater completion,
copulation ended i.e separated. For the temporary fusion,
accessory glands secrete adhesive fluid.
Cocoon formation: After copulation, earthworm moves into
their own burrows. In the burrow, glanular cells of the
clitellum become very active whose secretion form a tight sac
around the clitellum called clitellar sac. After that
earthworm’s body withdraws backward. As a result, sac
collects eggs from 14th opening and sperms from spermathecal
openings, at last comes out of the anterior region in barrel
shape called cocoon.

Fig: Process of Cocoon formation

Fertilization: Fertilization is external although takes place

inside the cocoon which converts into zygote. After few
hours, zygote undergoes cleavage give directly young ones.
Therefore, the development is direct.
NERVOUS SYSTEM:

Fig: T.s nerve cord of Pherithima

Nervous system is annulated type, constitute central nervous
system, peripheral nervous system and autonomic nervous
system.
1.Central Nervous System: Central nervous system related
with cerebral ganglia or brain in the 3rd segment and ventral
nerve cord extending from 5th segment to 2nd last. Minute
colorless brain locate just above the buccal cavity in
3rd segment connect with the ventral nerve code by circum
pharyngeal connectives. Thus form a ring called nerve ring or
circum pharyngeal ring. At the lateral sides of the ring in
4th segment present sub pharyngeal ganglia and from
5th segment to 2nd last present segmental ganglia.
2. Peripheral Nervous System:It is related with nerve fibrous
of the ganglia.It includes nerve fibers or nerve, which arises
from central nervous system.
- From cerebral ganglia, 8-10 nerves arise and supply to
prostomium, buccal chamber, and pharynx.
- From circumpharyngeal connectives, two pairs of nerves
arise and supply to 1st and 2nd segment.
- From subpharyangeal ganglia, three pairs of nerve arise and
supply to 2nd, 3rd and 4th segment.
- From each segmental ganglion, three pairs of nerves arise
and supply to respective segment.

3.Autonomic Nervous System: It is primitive form because of

lower invertebrate animal.
Function:
1. Reception of stimuli.
2. Conduction of stimuli.
3. Conversion of stimuli into messages.
4. Conduction of messages towards affective region.

Economic importance
Beneficial aspects
- It makes the burrow in soil. This is useful for plants and
they can grow easily.
- They can be used as food.
-They are used as medicines to cure stone in bladder, jaundice
etc.
- They can be used as baits for fishing.
- There are used in laboratory for research.

Harmful aspects
- They can damage plants in garden.