Scientific Name: Oligochaeta
Distribution: Global, found in soil, logs,
river banks and along coasts
You’ll hardly ever see these wiggly worms unless
there’s a heavy thunderstorm, when they come out
to move overland. Ear thworms breathe through their
skin, which must be wet for them to do so, which is
why they don’t make topside journeys when it’s dr y
outside.
Ear thworms play an extremely impor tant role
keeping soil healthy. As they burrow through it,
they create paths for air and water to flow though.
This is extremely impor tant for plants. Ear thworms
also eat the soil swallowing all the debris in it, which
they digest and then expel as fer tiliser. Studies have
also shown that they can clean up polluted soils,
removing toxic metals and other contaminants!
Considering that one of these worms can eat as
mu t ts body t ver y day, these
re eroes!EARTHWORM
GOING GREEN!G