Facts about Worms – Animal With 5 Hearts
When we think about the animal kingdom, worms are creatures that sometimes go unnoticed. However, if you examine them and their role in the food chain, you will realize that they are some of the most important creatures in the ecosystem.
It is a common misconception that worms belong to the insect family, but they are some of the most unique animals on earth. They have tube-like bodies with no limbs and depending on the species of worm, and they can live either on land or in the water.
In this article, we will talk about all things worm and worm-related. From what family they are a part of, to what their diets consist of and how long they live to a series of fun facts about worms, you’re going to learn a lot about worms!
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Basic Worm Facts
Name
There are different names for worms, depending on the category that they belong to. The scientific name for segmented worms is Annelida, the scientific name for flatworms is Platyhelminthes, and the scientific name for roundworms is Nematoda.
There are over a million species of worms worldwide that are divided into three main categories: segmented worms, flatworms, and roundworms.
Scientific Classification
The list below shows you the scientific classification of worms:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Annelida
- Class: Clitellata
- Order: Haplotaxida or Lumbriculida
- Family: Acanthodrilidae through Sparganophilidae
- Subfamily: remember
Latin Name
The Latin name for a worm is Vermis.
Appearance
Worms have cylindrically-shaped bodies and no limbs, unlike various other members of the animal kingdom that possess limbs. The body of a worm is typically long and thin, and they are invertebrates, which means that they don’t have a spinal cord. They are also bilateral creatures, meaning that the left and right sides of their bodies are mirrors of one another.
The composition of a worm’s body depends on the category that it belongs to. A flatworm has a flat and thin body that is covered by cilia, a type of hair. On the other hand, roundworms have round bodies with a more cylindrical shape. Their bodies also taper close to the tail. Segmented worms look similar to roundworms as they also have long and cylindrical bodies. However, the body of a segmented worm consists of small segments linked together by muscle.
Common Types of Worms
The most common types of worms that can be found everywhere are:
- Tapeworms
- Beard worms
- Arrowworms
- Pinworms
- Hookworm
- Spoonworms
- Peanut worms
- Ribbon worms
Size and Weight
There are more than a million species of worms worldwide, which means that worms vary greatly in size and weight. Some worms are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, while others are over three feet long. The biggest worm in the world is over six meters long. The average worm weighs around 250 grams, while larger worms can weigh over one kilo.
Habitat and Range
Worms typically live in the earth’s soil. Earthworms, in particular, are generally found in damp soil. Since worms are located in the ground, their range is usually at any depth of soil on the surface of the earth.
Diet
Worms eat any type of organic matter. These include fruits, vegetables, and their peels, dead plants, coffee grounds, etc. Worms also eat decomposing animals and animal manure.
Life Expectancy
The average worm lives only for about one to two years. However, a worm might live for three to seven years under research circumstances.
8 Interesting Worm Facts
Worms process their food very quickly
Worms can eat more than half their body weight every single day. However, unlike other creatures worms do not have teeth. Instead, worms grab onto their food with their mouths, where it makes its way down its body. The worm’s throat receives the food and coaxes it further down the throat with saliva. The food then travels to the esophagus, following which it gets stored in the worm’s crop, which is a sac that stores food. Later on, the food travels to the gizzard, where it is broken into smaller particles and pushed inside the intestine.
When cut in half, worms do not grow into two separate worms
Worms do not grow into new worms when they are cut into half. Still, it is important to remember that if a worm is cut along a segment on its body away from where its vital organs are, then the worm is likely to survive. However, if the worm’s body does not contain vital organs, then it won’t live. The other half of the worm’s body won’t grow a new head or new organs either.
Worms are cold blooded creatures
Unlike mammals and other animals, worms do not have the ability to regulate their body temperature, which means that their bodies will always be the same temperature as their environment.
Worms are hermaphrodites
If a creature is a hermaphrodite, it means that the creature possesses both male and female sexual organs. However, even though worms have both male and female sexual organs, you must remember that they cannot reproduce individually.
Worms have five hearts
Most mammals and reptiles have one heart with several chambers in it. However, when it comes to worms, it’s important to note that they have a set of five pairs of aortic arches. These five arches are chambered individually, and help pump blood to the rest of the worm’s body.
Worms breathe through their skin
Worms do not have noses, which means that they must use an alternate orifice to breathe from. Therefore, they breathe by using their skin to absorb oxygen. It is crucial that a worm remains moist, because if its skin gets dry, the oxygen dissolves and the worm suffocates.
Worms lose their shape if they eat too much protein
Even though worms have big appetites, they must not eat too much protein. If a worm consumes more protein than necessary, its digestive system struggles to process the excess protein, and its intestine could rupture. As a result, the worm’s body becomes deformed and it loses its shape.
Worms are important in a garden
You might find worms disgusting, but they are important because they can help aerate soil. Worms dug tunnels in soil, so when you water your plants, the soil absorbs more water and can help your plants grow better.
Some types of worms are edible
In some parts of the world, worms are considered to be a delicacy, while in other parts, they are a regular staple in people’s diets.
Worms are blind
Worms don’t have eyes, but they possess a sensitivity to light and prefer to stay away from it. If a worm is exposed to too much light, it will eventually back away into darkness.
Conclusion
Worms are some of the most unique and important creatures in the world! In this article, we took a look at some interesting facts about worms, along with a few necessary facts that help explain where worms come from and which families they belong to. While there are many different species of worms all over the world, they all have a lot in common, and this article shows you what. The next time you’re in a pinch, don’t forget to use our work as a quick guide to all things worm-related!