Worms: Why Are They Slimy and Other Facts
- A worm has no eyes, legs or arms.
- There are more than 6,000 different types of earthworms in the world.
- There can be up to 1 MILLION earthworms in just 1 acre of land.
- 22 foot long earthworm was found in South Africa.
- Worms help plants by mixing the soil. So gardeners love them because they are “free” help!
- The sticky slime a worm makes helps keep it from drying out. If the worm dries out, it will die, because it “breathes” through it’s skin.
- Earthworms can replace lost parts. Some types are better at this than others.
- Baby worms hatch from a cocoon. You can read about the life cycle here.
- A single worm has both male and female parts. This is called a hermaphrodite. But they still need a mate to reproduce.
- EEven without eyes, a worm can still sense light and will move away from it.
- Earthworms often come to the surface when it rains.
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- Some people eat earthworms, like some people in China and New Zealand.
- Worms use a gizzard to grind up food instead of teeth.
- Vermicomposting is the treatment of wastes, like kitchen scraps, using worms.
- A worm chopped in half will not become 2 worms. Just the head end will regenerate into a new worm.
- Worms can have up to 5 hearts depending on the type of worm it is.
- You can buy a Worm Observation Farm to watch worms close up!
Earthworm Quick Facts
| Common name | Earthworm |
| Scientific name | Lumbricidae |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Annelida |
| Class | Clitellata |
| Order | Crassiclitellata |
| Type | Soft-bodied invertebrate (earthworm) |
| Habitat | Soil, up to a million per acre |
| Size | Largest recorded about 22 feet long |
| Special feature | No eyes, but senses light and breathes through its skin |
Earthworm FAQs
Why are worms slimy?
A worm’s slime keeps its skin moist. This matters because a worm breathes through its skin and will die if it dries out.
Do worms have eyes?
No, worms have no eyes, legs or arms. They can still sense light and will move away from it.
Can a worm grow back if it is cut in half?
A worm cut in half does not become two worms. Only the head end can grow into a new worm. Earthworms can replace lost parts, but some types are better at it than others.
How do worms have babies?
Each worm has both male and female parts, but they still need a mate to reproduce. The babies hatch from a cocoon.
How many hearts does a worm have?
A worm can have up to five hearts, depending on the type.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
