Lampito mauritii

Lampito mauritii Classification Phylum : Annelida Class : Oligochaeta Order : Haplotaxida Genus : Lampito Species : mauritii Earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that inhabits the upper layers of the moist soil, rich in decaying organic matter. It is nocturnal and during the day it lives in burrows made Introduction From microbes to the blue whale, organisms occur in different sizes and shapes with a well organized organ and organ systems. The basic tissues (chapter- ) organize to form an organ which in turn associates to form organ systems in multicellular organisms. Such an organization is essential for efficient and better coordinated activities of millions of cells constituting an organism. You are being introduced to understand the morphology and anatomy of three A function to each organ and each organ to its own function is seen in all animals. XI Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- by burrowing and swallowing the soil. In gardens, they can be traced by their faecal deposits known as worm castings on the soil surface. Earthworms are considered as “Friends of Farmers”. The common Indian earthworms are Lampito mauritii (S yn. ­Megascolex mauritii), Perioynx excavatus and Metaphire posthuma ( Syn . Pheretima posthuma). Earthworms are also conveniently classified based on their ecological strategies as epigeics, anecics and endogeics (Figure . ). Epigeics (Greek for “up on the earth”) are surface dwellers, eg. Perionyx excavatus and ­ Eudrilus eugeniae. Anecics (Greek for “outer layer of the earth”) are found in upper layers of the soil, eg. Lampito mauritii, Lumbricus terrestris. Endogeics (Greek for “within the earth”) are found in deeper layers of the soil eg. ­ Octochaetona thurstoni . in colour, with purplish tinge at the anterior end. This colour of the earthworm is mainly due to the presence of porphyrin pigment. The body of the earthworm is encircled by a large number of grooves which divides it into a number of compartments called segments or metameres (Figure . ). L. mauritii consists of about – segments. The dorsal surface of the body is marked by a dark mid dorsal line (dorsal blood vessel)