1. Annelida Saahirah Shaik Block 3 1/13/14

2. What is Annelida?  Phylum that consists of spine less, segmented worms.  Are most commonly known as ‘round worms’  Divided into three main groups: - earthworms - leeches - polycheates  Bodies are usually divided into little segments ( like rings joined together.)

3. Earthworms ə rTH ˌ w ə rm noun a burrowing annelid worm that lives in the soil. Earthworms play an important role in aerating and draining the soil and in burying organic matter.  Scientific name: Lumbricina  Found living in soil.  Feeds on dead or any organic matter.  After organic matter is digested, the earthworm releases waste from their bodies called castings. Castings contain many nutrients that the plant can use.  Castings usually used as fertilizer for growing plants.  Digestive system runs through out the body.  Conducts respiration through its skin.  Enrich soil for plants, animals and other living organisms.

4. Leeches lēCH/ noun an aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm with suckers at both ends. Many species are bloodsucking parasites, especially of vertebrates, and others are predators.  Scientific name: Hirudinea  Do not have bristles and external segmentation on the body.  Majority of the population live in freshwater environments.  Feed on blood from vertebrate or invertebrate organisms.  Have historically been used to remove blood from patients.  lay eggs in cocoons, and the babies that hatch out look and behave like little adults.  search for prey by following the scent or touch of the animal.  have very poor vision (only tell the strength of light)

5. Polycheatus pälē ˌ kēt/ noun a marine annelid worm of the class Polychaeta ; a bristle worm.  live in soft or rocky environment on sea floor from intertidal to depth.  both the adult and larvae of polychaetes are the main food supply of many economically important fishes  used as indicator for monitoring the marine environment. They are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions.  known by many names: lugworms, clam worms, bristleworms, fire worms, palolo worms, sea mice, featherduster worms.  Have small cilia like structures to help with transportation underwater.  Feed on the bacteria and other little organisms underwater.  One of the most popular types of annedelia that are studied.

6. Reproduction  Asexual: -By dividing into two or more pieces or by budding off a new individual while the parent remains a complete organism. Some of the species seem to reproduce entirely asexually, while others reproduce asexually in summer and sexually in autumn.  Sexual: -Are hermaphrodites where each earthworm contains both male and female sex organs. The male and female sex organs can produce sperm and egg respectively in each earthworm. Although earthworms are hermaphrodites, most need a mate to reproduce. During mating, two worms line up inverted from each other so sperm can be exchanged. The earthworms each have two male openings and two sperm receptacles, which take in the sperm from another mate. The earthworms have a pair of ovaries that produce eggs. The clitellum will form a slime tube around it, which will fill with an albuminous fluid. The earthworm will move forward out of the slime tube. As the earthworm passes through the slime tube, the tube will pass over the female pore picking up eggs.

7. Sexual reproductionAsexual reproduciton

8. Main uses  leeches are usually used as either pain relievers and used to retract the blood out of patients.  Earth worms are usually used as fertilizers form plants.

10. Citations  "Annelida" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 13, 2015  Buchsbaum, R. 1987. Animals Without Backbones, 3rd ed. Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago.  Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 13, 2015