The genus ''Lumbricus'' contains some of the most commonly seen
earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. T ...
s in Europe among its nearly 700 valid species.
Characteristics of some commonly encountered species are:
* ''
Lumbricus rubellus
''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a species of earthworm that is related to '' Lumbricus terrestris''. It is usually reddish brown or reddish violet, iridescent dorsally, and pale yellow ventrally. They are usually about to in length, with around 95†...
'' is usually reddish brown or reddish violet, iridescent dorsally, and pale yellow ventrally. They are usually about 25–105 mm in length, and have around 95-120 segments.
* ''
Lumbricus castaneus'' varies from chesnut to violet brown; brown or yellow ventrally, and has an orange
clitellum
The clitellum is a thickened glandular and non-segmented section of the body wall near the head in earthworms and leeches, that secretes a viscid sac in which eggs are stored. It is located near the anterior end of the body, between the fourteent ...
. They are usually about 30–70 mm long, and have around 82–100 segments.
* ''
Lumbricus terrestris
''Lumbricus terrestris'' or the ''common earthworm'' is a large, reddish worm species thought to be native to Western Europe, now widely distributed around the world (along with several other lumbricids). In some areas where it is an introduce ...
'' has several common names, including common earthworm, nightcrawler, and dew worm. It is strongly pigmented, brown-red dorsally, and yellowish ventrally. Setae are widely paired at both ends of the body. It is about 90–300 mm long, and has around 110–160 segments.
* ''
Lumbricus festivus'' is not found in large numbers. It is red-brown, lighter ventrally, iridescent dorsally. The body length varies from 48–108 mm, with about 100–143 segments.
* ''
Lumbricus badensis
''Lumbricus badensis'' is a type of giant earthworm, a species of annelid. It is endemic to the upper-elevation spruce forests of Germany's Black Forest, where its common name is ''Badischer Riesenregenwurm'' ("giant rainworm of Baden
Ba ...
'', the giant earthworm, also belongs to this genus. Its range is restricted to the
Black Forest
The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is t ...
area of southwestern Germany. It is very large and grows up to 600mm.
See also
*
Earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. T ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q135413
Lumbricidae
Annelid genera