Characteristics on Anelida By Bon’Dez Ragland

6 characteristic Annelida consist of about 15,000 species of bilaterally symmetrical, segmented worms. Annelids of the class oligochaeta generally live in the soil or in fresh water. Most species of Annelida have external bristle called setae and have some fleshy protrusions called Para podia. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, but an individual worm cannot fertilize its own eggs. An earthworms body is divided into more than 100 segments, most of which are virtually identical. About two-thirds of all annelids are members of the class polychaeta and are called polychaetes.

3 facts An individual worm cant fertilize its own eggs. These worms have gizzards this releases and breaks up organic matter. They also avoid dry ground and extreme heats.

Annelid vocabulary Para podia: One of the fleshy appendages on each side of most segments in a polychaete annelid Seta: One of the external bristles on annelids Annelid: a bilaterally symmetrical, segmented worm, such as an earthworm or a leech.