What are the types of worms, their varieties, description and characteristics of representatives of different species. That diligent Californian

As you know, some of the worms are non-segmented, while others are articulated (see Animals). The most highly organized of all phyla of worms and at the same time the most important and interesting from a paleontological point of view is the phylum Annelida (annelids). Annelida - segmented worms: their body is elongated, divided into segments. At one end of the body is the mouth opening, and at the other - the anus. Most representatives of this type live in the sea. Some of them actively move - either swim or crawl along the seabed, burrow into silt and sand; traces and passages of such worms are in some cases quite common in rocks where there are no other animal or plant remains. Other representatives of the type annelids lead a sedentary lifestyle. Some of these worms secrete protective calcareous tubes, sometimes more or less twisted, and sometimes spirally coiled. These worms live in such tubes and are therefore called tubeworms. Only pipes are preserved in a fossil state. Two genera are the most widely distributed among the tubers: Spirorbis and Serpula.

Representatives of the genus Spirorbis (Lower Silurian - now) are preserved in the form of small calcareous tubes, folded into a cochlear spiral. In this way, spirorbis resemble the shells of some foraminifera or molluscs. Each such spirally coiled tube is attached with its lower side to some foreign object (algae, the shell of a larger animal, etc.).
The genus Serpula (Upper Silurian - now) forms irregularly wriggling calcareous tubes, which are usually attached to some foreign objects or to each other. Some annelids have a chitinous jaw apparatus in the form of serrated plates. Similar formations are also found in the fossil state starting from the lower Paleozoic. They were given a name scolecodonts. This word means "teeth of worms"; paleontologists who study them tend to regard scolecodonts as the remains of ancient annelids. Scolecodonts are usually microscopic in size and vary greatly in shape. These fossils consist mainly of organic matter (about 50%) and silica (about 45%).

Of particular note are the passages of worms, often observed in huge number in some breeds. These passages apparently also belong to annelids. The so-called sandworms belonging to this type, eating silt, go deep into the sediment by about 60 cm. According to some calculations, this entire layer of 60 cm passes through the intestines of the sandworms in about two years. Similar worm-eaters undoubtedly existed in previous geological epochs. The passages of such worms sometimes abound in layers of sedimentary rocks, extremely poor in other remains of organisms. The passages of worms, which are often found in the thicknesses of the so-called flysch, often in myriad numbers, have long been described under the name fucoid and were originally taken for the remains of algae. Quite often it is necessary to observe, for example, marl slabs with numerous round exits of tubular worms. After careful removal of the top layer of such a slab, one can see the branching of the passages.

Annelids are of great theoretical interest to the evolutionary paleontologist. They closely approach the type of arthropods in their structure, and, apparently, these latter are descended from some ancient Annelids.

Participation of worms in the formation of rocks

Representatives of the genus Serpula and forms close to them are of great importance as rock-forming organisms. The sinuous tubes of these fossils can form layers rocks. In northwestern Germany, Lower Cretaceous serpulite (i.e., a rock formed by serpules), the layer of which reaches a thickness of 50 m, in places consists entirely of pipes of these fossils. Serpules take a significant part in the formation of some limestones common in Russia (can be seen on the example of the Moscow region) and on the territory. Ukraine (for example, reef limestones of the Middle Miocene of the southwestern part of Ukraine).
The huge role of earthworms (also belonging to the type of annelids) in the processing and loosening of the soil cover and denudation of the earth's crust became well known after the work of Charles Darwin "Formation of the vegetative layer of the earth by the activity of earthworms."

In everyday language, the term "worm" is applied to various living forms such as larvae, insects, centipedes, centipedes, and even some vertebrates. All types of worms are divided into several groups:

flatworms

Family planaria lives in fresh water. They are hermaphrodites (have both male and female sex organs). They have simple brains (ganglia) and nervous system, swept head and two eyespots. They have the ability to regenerate.

Trematodes or flukes have complex life cycles, and they live within one or more hosts. These worm species are characterized by a well-developed digestive system with a mouth at the anterior end and one or more suckers surrounding the mouth. Suckers are used to stay attached to inner surface host body.

2. Tapeworms

Tapeworms come in all shapes and sizes. Whether they're on a rain-soaked pavement, dumpster or at the end of a fishhook, the worms that most people know are of the segmented variety.

Nematoda have successfully adapted to almost every ecosystem from marine (salt water) to fresh water, to soils, from polar regions to the tropics, and from the highest to the highest low altitudes. These worms are ubiquitous in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments, where they often outnumber other animals and are found in places as diverse as mountains, deserts, and ocean trenches.

4. Annelids

annelids(nereis, sea mouse, sandworm, earthworm, tubifex, leeches).
Annelids (Annelida, from the Latin anellus, "small ring"), also known as annelids or segmented worms, are a large phylum with over 17,000 extant species, including earthworms and leeches. The species of these worms are adapted to different ecologies - some live in marine environment, such as intertidal zones and hydrothermal vents, others in fresh water as well as wet terrestrial habitats.

earthworms

Any person inclined to work on the ground has repeatedly encountered these shiny, pinkish-brown tubular life-forms, which hastily disappeared into the comforting damp darkness of the soil. This is known to all earthworms . We note a few of their features:

Earthworms are incredibly diverse, with about 6,000 species worldwide. Some of the most familiar species can be seen in your garden - the night crawler (it can be seen after dark), the angleworm (it's a popular fishing bait), or the earthworm.
Of the 180 earthworm species found in the US and Canada, 60 are invasive species brought from the Old World.
Lacking lungs or other specialized respiratory organs, earthworms breathe through their skin.
The skin radiates a lubricating fluid that facilitates movement through underground burrows and helps keep the skin moist.
Each earthworm is both male and female, producing both eggs and sperm. One end of their body is more sensitive to light than the other.
Earthworms are attracted to each other by smell. These types of worms mate on the surface of the earth.
Earthworm eggs look like tiny lemons. Newborn worms emerge from eggs very small but fully formed. They produce reproductive organs during the first 2-3 months of life and reach full size in about a year. They can live up to eight years.
The size of these worms varies depending on the species, from less than 2 cm to almost 3 m. Such large monsters are not found in gardens. You have to go to the tropics to see them.
In the northern states of Canada, subsequently the last ice age, earthworms were destroyed. Therefore, modern worms living in areas washed out by glaciers are ocean invaders that were deliberately introduced by early settlers on the assumption that the worms would improve the soil.
The earthworm's digestive system is a tube that runs straight from the front end of the body to the back where the digested material passes out. Since they mainly eat fallen leaves and soil, this allows the worms to move into the soil nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen. In addition, the movements of the worm in the ground create holes that facilitate the passage of air and loosening the soil.
The boreal forest of the United States suffers from earthworms that quickly eat the leafy layer (duff), as a result of which nutrients become less available to young growing plants, and the soil becomes more compact instead of loosening, which negatively affects the development of these forests. Earthworms can also speed up the passage of water through forest soil, which can be useful for farmland or a garden with compacted soil, but not for such forests.
Because the earthworm holds most of their life underground, plowing the soil and creating complex networks of burrows (which can extend 2 m or more), their bodies are basically like a tube with muscles arranged in two layers. One set of fibers runs lengthwise and the other runs widthwise like a corset around his body. Tightening the "corset" causes the worm's head to move forward. The wave of contractions then travels back over the body, squeezing the worm forward until the long muscles intercept the tail.
Thin-skinned earthworms have no resistance to ultraviolet radiation sun, so daylight can be fatal, they are usually found only on the surface in dull, wet weather.
If the worm loses one end of its body it can be replaced, however if it is cut in half it dies. Contrary to popular belief, they do not become the two new worms.
Fossil worms similar to earthworms have been found in rocks laid down 600 million years ago.

The earthworm is such a familiar creature and few people think about its great importance in nature. The contribution of earthworms to soil fertility is enormous. They break through the ground, dragging leaves and other plant debris into the soil, which allows organic matter and air to enter and seep into the water. Their activity over millions of years is vital to creating rich, fertile soils from dense, barren clays. Unfortunately, the earthworm has many enemies - almost all animals and birds - but the moth is the biggest threat as one moth can eat up to 50 earthworms in one day.

When a fisherman is digging for worms for an upcoming fishing trip, of course he wants to find someone bigger. But what would he say if he found a worm 3 meters long underground? And, meanwhile, such worms are found in Australia. True, no one puts them on the hook - their number is already too small, so they are under state protection.

Australian giant earthworm (lat. Megascolides australis) is the largest of all known underground invertebrates in the world. It lives exclusively in Gippsland - a rural area of Victoria with an area of \u200b\u200bjust 1000 square meters. km. And even then, you can meet him here far from every corner - like a real earthworm, he chooses clay and earth for life. wet soil close to water bodies.

Whether it was before - when the entire south of modern Gippsland was covered with dense eucalyptus forests, giant worms there was a place to stay. However, the trees were cut down to make way for Agriculture, and the soil itself was constantly disturbed: they plowed, planted seeds, fertilized and plowed again. This place has become uncomfortable for earthworm of such size, so he had to settle on the remaining small and isolated remnants of the forest.

An adult individual of the giant Australian worm reaches a length of 2.5-3 meters with a body thickness of 2-3 cm and a weight of about 700 g. It is not surprising that from afar it can be confused with a long, emaciated snake. However, upon closer examination, the segments characteristic of all earthworms are clearly visible, of which the Australian giant has at least three hundred.

Giant earthworms rarely crawl out to the surface - they spend their whole lives in long underground tunnels that they dig out on their own. Usually the worm digs the ground with the front of its body, however, if the soil is too hard, it passes it through the intestines and throws it to the surface in heaps. For a day, one individual is able to process 500-700 g of soil.

It's funny that when moving underground, a giant worm behaves very noisily - smacking, gurgling or buzzing. And all because the walls of its tunnels are covered with a special secret that makes it easier to slide. Australian earthworms breed in spring and summer. They are hermaphrodites, but they need a mate for successful fertilization. After mating, each of the partners lays eggs in a pre-built cocoon.

The eggs of the giant earthworm mature and develop throughout the year. Hatched cubs do not differ in anything from their parents except for their size. The length of their body, by our standards, is no longer small - 20 cm, but only after 5 years they grow to their final size and begin to reproduce. The maximum life span of Australian giant worms is 10 years.

Residents of Australia greatly revere their unusual neighbors. In their honor, they even established an annual international festival"Karmai" (the name of the worm in the dialect of the local aborigines). In addition, in 1985, a 100-meter attraction-museum dedicated to the giant earthworm was built.

- (Vermes), a combined group of invertebrates, uniting the lower bilaterally symmetrical animals (Bilateria) with an elongated body, to which the swarm was previously given the rank of type. Modern researchers divide Ch. into independent types: flat Ch., nemertins, ... ... Biological encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Vermes) extensive c. invertebrates, characterized by common features: the bilateral structure of the body, the development of the skin-muscular sac, enveloping the body and consisting of a single-layer epithelium and differently arranged muscles, the absence of ... ... Geological Encyclopedia

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1. WORMS, to her; WORMS, worms; pl. (unit of worm, s; f.). Card suit, denoted by red hearts. Lead hearts. Seven of worms. Ch. Trumps. On the hands of one h. ◁ Hearts; Chervonny, oh, oh. Ch. ace, king. 2. WORMS see Worm. * * * worms… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Hearts, hearts, suit, worms, worm Dictionary of Russian synonyms. worms n., number of synonyms: 6 fats (5) suit ... Synonym dictionary

WORMS- (vermes), a type (and, according to some authors, a group of types) of invertebrate animals, occupying, in terms of the height of their organization, a kind of middle position between intestinal cavities, on the one hand, and arthropods (and soft-bodied) on the other. Ch. have b. h… … Big Medical Encyclopedia

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WORMS, a group of invertebrates. Most worms have an elongated body, the walls of which consist of the skin and muscles. About 40 thousand species. Free-living forms dwell in the seas, fresh waters and soil. Besides,… … Modern Encyclopedia

A combined group of protostomes invertebrates with an elongated body, uniting flatworms, primary cavity worms, nematelmints, nemertins, annelids, etc ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

WORMS, worms. see hearts. Dictionary Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

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Worms, R. Flanagan. 1995 edition. The security is very good. A country of many millions, proud of its powerful army, enthusiastically chanting "USA" and an army machine that crushes people under it. Army and...
Worms-parasites - the cause of unrecognized diagnoses, O. I. Eliseeva. What is helminthiasis, what types of parasites can inhabit our organs, and what are the known ways of their penetration into the human body. Symptoms of helminthiasis and its similarity with ...

AT different sources you can meet "earthworms", "dung worms", "earthworms", "compost worms", etc. Let's see how the worms are called correctly and how they differ.

earthworms called family large soil oligochaete worms Lumbricidae (Lumbricida), which belong to the order of higher oligochaetes Lumbricomorpha, the class of oligochaete worms Oligochaeta (Oligochaete), the subtype of Clitellata (Clitellata) girdle worms, and the type of annelids Annelida (Annelida). The type of annelids, or rings, covers a significant number of species (about 9000) of higher worms.

Types of earthworms differ not only in structure, but also in habitat, lifestyle and a special role in the soil formation process. All family species lumbiricidae (Lumbricidae) grouped in eight births, of which the most studied genus Eisenia. The representative of this genus, the dung worm Foetida (Eisenia Foetida), is cultivated in Russia.

Therefore, a dung worm can be safely called an earthworm - it's just a more generalized concept.

Categories of worms according to their behavior

Earthworms are grouped into three categories according to their behavior in natural environment: anecic, endogeic and epigeic.

Anecic species build vertical burrows up to 1.5-2 meters deep. They feed on to a certain extent fermented organic matter on the surface of the soil and convert it into humus. If these worms are deprived of their permanent habitat, they stop multiplying and growing. They are very important for soil formation. The main species are Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea longa.

Endogeic varieties, type Aporrectodea calignosa, build all-round, mostly horizontal burrows where they stay most of the time, feeding on the mineral particles of the soil. Prefer less saturated soil organic matter. This is the only type of earthworm that actually feeds on a lot of soil. Moving through the soil and passing it through their intestines, they mix and ventilate it, as well as enrich it with nutrients and microflora.

Epigeic species, do not build permanent burrows, they usually live in the topsoil, for example, in the forest under piles of leaves - i.e. in areas rich in organic raw materials. Quite often they can be found in manure heaps. Due to the fact that they do not make deep holes and prefer to eat material rich in organic matter, they are easily adapted to vermiculturing. This is just what it is those worms Eisenia foetida and Eisenia andreii. They make up approximately 80-90% of earthworms used in large scale commercial operations.

That diligent Californian

Eisenia foetida is the California red worm. Thus, it is correct to refer to a Californian as both "rain" and "dung." The same applies to the Prospector worm - this is also Eisenia foetida.

Their only difference is that different populations of the same worms were used for selection. The Californian was bred in California using local worms, and Prospector in our country, in the Vladimir region, crossing a local worm and a worm from Kyrgyzstan.

Therefore, both the red Californian worm and the prospector worm can be called breeds earthworm Eisenia foetida.

Igonin A.M. about the differences between a prospector and a Californian

In his book How to Increase Soil Fertility Dozens of Times with the Help of Earthworms (2000, third edition), Professor Igonin writes, “comparative and parallel studies of our technological worms and California red did not reveal any differences between them in 14 features.”

Recall that it was Anatoly Mikhailovich Igonin who in the 80s of the last century received the earthworm breed "prospector".

How to Increase Soil Fertility with California Worms, S. Kulish (2005)

How to increase soil fertility tenfold with the help of earthworms, A. Igonin (2000)