Earthworm

Scientific Name: Lumbricina

Order & Family: Haplotaxida; Lumbricidae

Size: 10 mm up to 3 meters in some species, typically 5-15 cm.

Moist soil, leaf litter, and compost throughout temperate and tropical regions.

Detritivorous; they consume organic matter in soil like decaying leaves and microorganisms.

Nocturnal and subterranean. They burrow through soil and come to the surface during heavy rains.

Extremely beneficial to ecosystems; they aerate soil, recycle nutrients, and improve drainage.

Identified on: 1/13/2026