Worms

[M.T.Vessel]

What are worms made of ?

[kiss2u]

A worm is 70% protein. There is a concentration of sensory cells at this anterior end around the mouth. And though it has no eyes, it possesses light sensitive cells and can "sense" light.It cannot hear, but feels vibrations of animals moving nearby. The worm's body is divided into 100 or more body segments. As the worm works its way forward, successive peristaltic or contracting waves of thickening and thinning (7-10 per minute) pass down the body. At each place where the body bulges out at a given moment, the bristles, or setae, are extended and grip the burrow walls. Setae, which are not true legs but pairs of bristles attached to each segment, push against the ground with each contraction and help the animal move. When a Robin tries to pull an earthworm out of the ground, the worm uses these bristles to hold on tight to the wall of its home. Sometimes the worm holds on so tight and the Robin pulls so hard that the worm comes apart. The Robin keeps the front end and the hind end wriggles back into its burrow. If a bird pulls off the first 7 or 8 rings of the worm's body, new segments will grow. If a worm is pulled in half, the head end will grow back. The earthworm has no lungs and takes in oxygen through its moist skin - it is a skin breather. If it dries out it will suffocate. Its skin is covered by mucus-secreting cells. The mucus serves not only in respiratory exchange, but it also lubricates the worm's body and eases passage through the burrow. The mucus covered skin helps bind soil particles together and prevents the walls of the burrow from collapsing.

[Unabashed]

Kiss2u, are you a wormoligist......?

[kiss2u]

i have a boring job.....

[Unabashed]

Does it involve the study of worms.....If not you should consider it...

[kiss2u]

You honestly think i'm that sad.... I simply did a search on M.T Vessel's behalf....not difficult really!!!

[Unabashed]

Sorry, I was just kidding, don't take it personally

[Unabashed]

Actually, how long did it take to type that answer....?

[HomerSimpson]

I'm just glad I'm not a worm.

[Emmess]

Kiss2u left off what I reckon is the most fascinating fact about worms: During the war, Prof Magnus Pyke, later to become famous on telly, recommended that the protein-rich earthworm be bred as a food source. Nobody took him seriously.