The soil passes through the earthworm’s digestive system. It ingests (swallows) soil as it burrows, eating the organic matter. The southern worm is dark greyish brown in colour. Like other endogeic species, these earthworms burrow through the soil, creating channels for air, water and plant roots. The pink worm lives in the top 20–30 cm depth of soil. Its clitellum – the glandular ring or saddle near the head – is dark, pinkish orange. It is widespread throughout New Zealand but less common than the grey worm or dung worm. The yellow tail earthworm is endogeic, living within the top 20–30 cm of soil. It has a distinctive yellow tip at the end of its tail. The yellow tail worm is pale grey in colour. They are common in pastures throughout the country. Grey worms live in the top 20–30 cm of soil. It ingests (eats) large amounts of soil and the organic matter in it. The grey worm is the most common earthworm in New Zealand. The snake worm is greenish brown in colour and lives at or near the soil surface. The snake worm gets its name from its long, slender body and its habit of writhing like a snake when it is disturbed. Dung worms are very common in New Zealand. The dung worm lives in the upper 5 cm of soil but is also found in cow pats or in horse manure. It is iridescent in bright light and has a red saddle. The dung worm is a reddish brown colour with a purple sheen. They reproduce easily provided they have plenty of food. Tiger worms are cultivated and sold as compost worms. Tiger worms will not live for long if transplanted into normal soil. It is most commonly found in compost piles, living close to the surface of the soil. The tiger worm gets its name from its red and yellow striped body. Bark worms live close to the soil surface so their young have a reduced chance of survival due to predation, temperature changes or drought. This is a lot compared to some other earthworms. The bark worm produces around 40–100 cocoons (egg cases) per year. ![]() It is short, bright red and has faint yellow colouring near the tip of its tail. The bark worm is a litter-dwelling earthworm. This information is also available as a slide show: Common New Zealand earthworms.īackground images: Soil profile courtesy of Anne Wecking compost bin image Bouvier Sandrine/123RF Ltd. Click on the labels to find out where common New Zealand earthworm species tend to live and read about their physical characteristics and life processes. Earthworms occupy different niches within the soil profile.
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