Length: 50-120mm. Diameter: 2-4mm. 80-120 segments. Cylindrical body shape. Pigmentation violet-red and striped with antero-posterior and dorso-ventral gradient. Clitellum dark red-orange. Setae closely paired. Prostomium epilobous. Small dorsal pores, the first in (3/4) 4/5. Mucus coloured with a foul odor. Nephropores alternate between setal lines ab and cd. Male pore punctiforme in 1/2 15, in ab. Female pore well developed, punctiforme in 1/2 14, in ab. Spermathecae open in 9/10-10/11, in cd. Clitellum saddle-shaped in (25) 26-32 (33). Tubercles as distinct bands on (27) 28-30 (31).

Internal characteristics
First septum in 4/5. Moniliforme hearts in 7-11. Nephridia tubular. Excretory system holonephridial, nephridial bladders tubular shaped. Calciferous glands in 10-13 (14) without diverticula with bulging in 12. Crop in 15-16. Gizzard in 17-18. Typhlosole beginning gradually around 21. Seminal vesicles in 9, 10, 11, 12 and smaller in 9, 10 than in 11, 12. Spermathecae simple, intra-coelomic, in 9 and 10. Small ovisacs present.

Possible confusion

E. fetida is a species only found in temperate and boreal countries. In nature, this epigeic species lives near the soil surface, within the decomposing organic matter, or in dead woods. Due to its high affinity with composting material, it has become the main species used in vermiculture. It is also a central species as model in toxicological studies and scientific research on earthworm molecular biology.

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  Adult specimen