What Kind of Environments Do Worms Live In?

Almost any invertebrate with a long, tube-like body and no legs can be considered a worm, which is a loose term that can be applied to many different and unrelated animals. Worms inhabit ecosystems all over the world including oceans, lakes, terrestrial habitats and the bodies of other animals.

  1. Oceans

    • Sea worms inhabit every one of the world's five major oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic). Deep sea hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific have been found to support giant tubeworms (also called beard worms). On the Arctic sea floor, small tubeworms were discovered living around a mud volcano. In the Indian Ocean, tubeworms live among coral reefs.

    Freshwater

    • Worms are known to live in and around freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds and rivers. Some common freshwater species of worm include the flatworm, roundworm and segmented worm (also known as the leech). The riverworm (Diplocardia riparia) is native to North America and lives in the soil of river banks.

    Terrestrial Habitats

    • Worms are found in abundance in terrestrial habitats including prairies, deserts and tropical rainforests. Earthworms are capable of inhabiting tree branches and rotting logs. Some species can burrow up to two miles beneath the earth, while others live in shallow topsoil. In North America, each acre of soil contains an average of one million earthworms.

    Bodies of Other Animals

    • Worms that live in the bodies of other animals are known as parasites. Some common parasites include the Guinea worm, hookworm and African eye worm. Parasites are most frequently found in the tropics, especially rural African villages. Hookworm is often contracted in humans by walking barefoot through soil or mud. Guinea worm is a parasite that can grow up to three feet inside the human body.