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General data Thematic references Distribution references
Eisenia fetida   (Savigny, 1826)
Taxonomy
Family: Lumbricidae     Genus: Eisenia
Synonyms: Enterion fetidum Savigny, 1826
Lumbricus foetidus Dugès, 1837
Allolobophora foetida Eisen, 1874
Lumbricus annulatus Hutton, 1877
Endrilus ? annulatus Smith, 1887
... more synonyms
► See also NCBI database
Short description
External characteristics: N/A
Internal characteristics: N/A
External characteristics

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.
Distribution
Geographical origin: N/A
Distribution status: Invasive
Present in: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Azores, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, French Guiana, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Guyana, Hawaii, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madeira, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Helena Island, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
► See also distribution references
Biology-Ecology
Ecological category: N/A
Climatic zone: N/A
Habitat: N/A
Micro-habitat: N/A

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 in earthworm molecular biology.
Pictures

  • Adult specimen

General data Thematic references Distribution references