About the Common Earthworm

The common earthworm is reddish and gray in color, and lives in most parts of Europe and in some parts of North America and Western Asia. These types of worms are herbivores, which mean that they only eat plants.

  1. Type

    • The common earthworm is an invertebrate, which means that it has no spine.

    Features

    • Earthworms have a ring-shaped body, called annuli. These annuli have little hairs that help them move and burrow.

    Size

    • Most earthworms only grow up to 8 cm in length, but some species of the earthworm have grown up to 14 inches.

    Function

    • Earthworms have become a source of food for cats, toads and birds. These types of worms are a popular choice for recreational and commercial fishing.

    Misconception

    • An earthworm that's cut in half will not grow two bodies. This was an urban legend that started on school playgrounds.