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How do earthworms breathe when they're in dirt? |
Bugs, Snails, Worms
We are reminded that earthworms live in the dirt when we see those patches of soil pellets on the lawn. This sign of activity lets us know that they’ve been busy! Sometimes we see them sliding across the sidewalk when it rains. It must be nice when they come out of the ground and get some air, right?
Actually, earthworms get the air they need from the soil! You see, they don’t breathe the same way we do. We have lungs to help us breathe, and we take in air through the mouth and nose. Earthworms don’t have lungs--they breathe through their skin!
In fact, the skin of earthworms must stay moist for this process to work. That’s why they only come out of the ground when it’s wet outside! Since they dry out very quickly, they must make sure the environment is humid if they hope to travel outside of their habitat. A wet day is the perfect chance for earthworms to move from place to place!
You may be wondering how air exists in dirt! The truth is that oxygen is there between the particles of soil. In fact, did you know that earthworms can survive underwater?! Since there is oxygen in water, it can pass through the skin of earthworms! This allows them to survive in water for days, and some say even as long as a few weeks if there is enough oxygen.
