material collected through the ciliated funnel is pushed into the muscular part of nephridium by the ciliated region. The glandular part extracts the waste from the blood and finally the wastes exit out through the nephridiopore. Besides nephridia, special cells on the coelomic wall of the intestine, called chloragogen cells are present. They extract the nitrogenous waste from the blood of the intestinal wall, into the body cavity to be sent out through the nephridia.
Reproductive System Earthworms are hermaphrodites or monoecious i.e. male and female reproductive organs are found in the same individual (Figure . ). Self fertilization is avoided because two sex organs mature at different times, which means the sperm develops earlier than the production of ova (Protandrous).
Thus cross fertilization takes place. In the male reproductive system, two pairs of testes are present in the th and th segments. The testes give rise to the germ cells or spermatogonia , which develops into spermatozoa in the two pairs of seminal vesicles. Two pairs of seminal funnels called ciliary rosettes are situated in the same segments as the testes.
The ciliated funnels of the same side are connected to a long tube called vas deferens. The vasa deferentia run upto the th segment where they open to the exterior through the male genital aperture . The male genital aperture contains two pairs of penial setae for copulation. A pair of prostate glands lies in the th – th segments.
The secretion of the prostate gland serves to cement the spermatozoa into bundles known as spermatophores . Figure . Lampito mauritii : Reproductive System. 2YLGXFW 3URVWDWH GXFW 2YDU\ 7HVWLV 6SHUPDWKHFDH 6XESKDU\QJHDO JDQJOLRQ 3HULSKDU\QJHDO FRPPLVVXUH %UDLQ 3HQLDOVHWD LVRODWHG 6HPLQDOIXQQHO 6HPLQDOYHVLFOH 9DVGHIHUHQV 3URVWDWHJODQG XI Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- by the gland cells of the clitellum which also collects the partner’s sperms from the spermthecae.
Fertilization and development occurs within the cocoons, which are deposited in the soil. After about – weeks, each cocoon produces baby earthworms. Development is direct and no larva is formed during