Category: Invertebrates
These tube shaped, segmented worms commonly live in the soil and feed on both live and dead organic matter. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. There are over 6000 named species of earthworms, ranging in size from less than half an inch to over nine feet long! Earthworms have no doubt played a keystone role in human agriculture, as their activity aerates the soil and mixes in organic material, creating conditions favorable for plant growth.
It’s an ant’s world. We’re just living in it.
Do humans truly dominate the world? The Argentine ant may have something to say about that. Many ants are known for their large colonies, but the Argentine ant, named for its South American origins takes this to a whole other level. Due to inadvertent introduction by humans, the Argentine ant has spread to all continents except Antarctica. There are now three known super-colonies of these ants: one in Europe (the largest, covering 3,700 miles), one in California (560 miles), and another on the west coast of Japan. Ants are often territorial, but amazingly, ants belonging to the super-colonies recognize one another: if you were to introduce a super colony ant from Japan to one from Europe or California, they will recognize each other as friends!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
