Question

Explain the morphology of earthworm, Lampito mauritii.

Answer 1

• Lampilo mauritii has a long and cylindrical narrow body which is laterally symmetrical.
• it is light brown in colour with purplish length at the anterior end.
• The body is divided into 165 – 190 segments.
• The dorsal surface of the body is marked by a dark mid dorsal line along the longitudinal axis of the body.
• The ventral surface has genital opening.
• The mouth is found in the centre of the first segment called peristomium. Overhanging
• the mouth is a small flag called upper lip or prostomium.
• The last segment called pygidiurn has the anus.
• The segments 14-17 are swollen with a glandular thickening of the skin called the clitellum.
• The body of earthworm is divided into pre clitellar region (1 – 13), clitellar region (14 – 17) and post clitellar region (after 17).
• Chitinous body selae are present in all segments except the first, last and clitellar segments. They are locomoting in function.
• The dorsal pores are present from the 10th segment onwards. The coelomic fluid
• communicates to the exterior through these pores and keeps the body surface moist and free from harmful microorganism.
• Between the segment 6/7, 7/8 and 8/9, supernatural openings are present.
• The female genital aperture lies on the ventral side in the 14th segment and a pair of male genital apertures are situated determinately in the 1 8th segment.
• Nephridiopores are numerous and found throughout the body except a free anterior segments.