Which worms are hermaphrodites

Diet An earthworm gets its nutrition from bacteria and fungi that grow on dead and decomposing organic matter. Life History Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning an individual worm has both male and female reproductive organs. Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. Nearby Events. All trick, no treat? The high price of harvesting cocoa for chocolate Read More.

Read More. Learn More. The National Wildlife Federation Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Join Ranger Rick Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities Learn More. The band of slime is wriggled off the head of the worm and forms a cocoon in the shape of a lemon for the anywhere from four to 20 worm eggs that the common European earthworm typically lays.

In about two to three weeks, the newborn worms will hatch and emerge from the cocoon into the soil. This cycle of reproduction can happen every week to 10 days, another reason earthworm populations can grow so quickly [source: Barrett ]. Earthworms can also reproduce themselves if need be. They can regenerate new segments if they lose a few.

Most earthworms are better at regenerating tails than heads, but some can. They don't reproduce asexually, however; only half and likely the head half of an earthworm split in two will regenerate into a full worm once again [source: Tomlin ]. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close.

Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. They reach out headfirst to touch somebody, either going all out or still keeping their butts covered. Perhaps they exchange pleasantries, but more importantly, they exchange sperm. They press segments 9, 10 and 11 of their bodies against the clitellum the pink band of their partner. Whitish glands in these segments release sticky stuff and special long bristles copulatory chetae anchor their bodies together and stimulate their partner.

Each worm produces a tube of mucus that keeps the sperm streams separate as they travel from one partner to the two pairs of sperm receptacles of the other. Once each has had its fill, they return to their separate solitudes without so much as a text message. For months after mating, a worm produces cocoons egg capsules in which eggs become fertilized and develop. Like a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma, the worm secretes another mucous tube that covers the clitellum and the male and female openings.

Within this tube, the clitellum secretes the cocoon. About a dozen eggs pass from the female openings into the cocoon.