Phylum Annelida

If you have an avid interest in gardening, you must have surely come across earthworms. Did you know one can find one million earthworms in just one acre of land? These earthworms belong to the Phylum Annelida. They create healthy soil and plants grow extremely well in these types of soils.

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Phylum Annelida

Having over 17,000 species, Phylum Annelida is a large phylum. Annelids are also known as ringworms or segmented worms. They exist in various environments including marine waters, fresh waters and also in moist terrestrial areas. The size of the annelids can range from a few millimetres to an amazing three metres in length. The Australian earthworm measures around 3 metres. Furthermore some species from this phylum exhibit some unique shapes and brilliant colours.

Annelids exhibit bilateral symmetry and are invertebrate organisms. They are coelomate and triploblastic. The body is segmented which is the most distinguishing feature of annelids.

Browse more Topics under Animal Kingdom

• Phylum Arthropoda
• Phylum Aschelminthes
• Phylum Chordata
• Phylum Coelenterata
• Phylum Echinodermata
• Phylum Hemichordata
• Phylum Mollusca
• Phylum Platyhelminthes
• Phylum Porifera

Learn more Phylum Coelenterata here.

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Characteristics of Phylum Annelida

• They have a long and segmented body.
• Annelids are bilaterally symmetrical.
• They are triploblastic.
• Also, they exhibit organ system grade of organisation, showing organ differentiation.
• The body is covered with a thin cuticle.
• They are coelomate. A body cavity or coelom is present.
• Annelids live in moist environments, moist soil, freshwater and marine water.
• They have parapodia and chitinous setae, used for locomotion.
• Their body appears red due to the presence of haemoglobin.
• Excretory and nervous systems are present.
• The digestive system is complete and developed.
• Respiration happens through the general body surface.
• These invertebrates have a true closed circulatory system.
• Sexes may be separate or united, wherein they are called hermaphrodites.
• Fertilization can be internal or external.

Learn more about Phylum Aschelminthes here.

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Examples of Annelids

• Earthworm
• Leeches
• Lugworms
• Polychaetes

(Source: Wikipedia)

Learn more about Phylum Echinodermata here.

Solved Question for You

Q: How are earthworms helpful to farmers?

Ans: To a farmer, earthworms are the most helpful and friendly creatures. They are burrowing creatures and play an important role in improving the soil texture and enriching the soil. Earthworms plough the soil by eating their way through the soil. They digest the soil along with the dead leaves and any other organic material. By doing this, they constantly loosen the upper layer of soil. This results in good water percolation and air penetration. The droppings of the earthworm also enrich the soil, making it good for plants to grow.

Q: Where do annelids live?

Ans: Annelids can live in marine or freshwater habitats or even in moist terrestrial environments.

Q: Where can you find leeches?

Ans: Freshwater leeches can be found in freshwaters. Marine leeches can be found in oceans. Leeches crawl well and are good swimmers.

Q: On a rainy day, you notice a long, brown, bilaterally symmetric organism in your garden. This organism has a body that is divided into segments, from the head to the tail. Under which phylum will you classify the organism, looking at its features? What do you think is the organism?

Ans: Since the organism is long, brown and bilaterally symmetrical, with a segmented body, it can be classified under phylum Annelida. The distinguishing characteristic is the segmented body. And Annelids also live in moist terrestrial areas.  This annelid is an earthworm, which can be found in moist soils.