Segmented Worms
- Segmented worms (Annelida) are a group of invertebrates that includes about 12,000 species of earthworms, ragworms and leeches. Segmented worms live in marine habitats such as the intertidal zone and near hydrothermal vents. Segmented worms also inhabit freshwater aquatic habitats as well as moist terrestrial habitats such as forest floors.
- Segmented worms are bilaterally symmetrical. Their body consists of a head region, a tail region and a middle region of numerous repeated segments. Each segment is separate from the others by a structure called a septa. Each segment contains a complete set of organs. Each segment also has a pair of hooks and bristles and in marine species a pair of parapodia (appendages used for movement). The mouth is located on the first segment at the head-end of the animal and the gut runs through all segments to the end where an anus is located in the tail segment. In many species blood circulates within blood vessels. Their body is filled with fluid that gives the animal shape through hydrostatic pressure. Most segmented worms burrow in terrestrial soils or sediments at the bottom of freshwater or marine waters.
- The body cavity of a segmented worm is filled with fluid inside which the gut runs the length of the animal from head to tail. The outer layer of the body consists of two layers of muscle, one layer that has fibers that run longitudinally, a second layer that has muscle fibers that run in a circular pattern.
- Segmented worms move by coordinating their muscles along the length of their body. The two layers of muscles (longitudinal and circular) can be contracted such that parts of the body can be alternately long and thin or short and thick. This enables the segmented worm to pass a wave of movement along its body that enable it to, for example, move through loose earth (in the case of the earthworm). They can make their head region thin so that it can be used to penetrate through new soil and build subterranean burrows and paths.
Segmented Worms