1. Earthworm
Reproduction

2. A Little About Earthworms
 Hermaphrodites: have both male and female
reproductive organs
 Protandrous: the male sex cells mature much earlier
than the female sex cells
 Cannot partake in parthenogenesis, or self-fertilization
 Require a mate of the same species to reproduce
 Possess a clitellum, or body wall, as adults

3. The Basics & Importance of This
System
 There are two main processes in the reproductive system:
1. Copulation: the joining of the two earthworms
2. Cocoon Formation: where the eggs are deposited
 The reproductive system is necessary for earthworms to
create new offspring, and could not do this without this
system

4. Anatomical Parts of the Reproductive
System
 Male reproductive organs:
-Testes= short, white, lobed structures made up of projections coming up from
a compact narrow base, contain spermatogonia
-Testis Sacs= thin-walled, wide, bi-lobed and fluid-filled
-Spermiducal/spermatic funnels= two pairs of ciliated sperm funnels lying
behind each testis, enclosed w/in the same testis sac
-Seminal Vesicles= large, white & sac-like, formed as outgrowths of the septa
-Vasa Deferentia= slender, internally ciliated sperm duct, where
spermiducal funnel leads to
-Prostate Glands= pair of large, white, flat, irregular and solid glandular
masses lying one on either side of the gut, consists of a large glandular part and
a small non-glandular part, get rid of prostatic fluid
-Accessory Glands= rounded, white fluffy masses, which open to the exterior
by a number of ducts on two pairs of genital papillae, helps in uniting the two
worms during copulation

5. Anatomical Parts of the
Reproductive System Cont.
 Female reproductive organs:
-Ovaries= white compact mass made up of several finger-like processes,
processes contain ova in various stages of development arranged in a linear
series
-Oviducal Funnels= large saucer-shaped, lies below each ovary, has folded and
ciliated margin, which leads into a short oviduct
-Oviducts=two short conical ciliated tubes, run posteriorly and meet below the
nerve cord forming a very short common oviduct
-Spermathecae= has a body known as the ampulla, ampulla continues into a
short narrow neck, which gives off a diverticulum/caecum, diverticulum stores
sperm received from another worm during copulation- ampullae provide
nourishment to the stored sperm

6. The Reproductive Process
 Step 1: Copulation
-Occurs at night or early morning during the rainy
season
-Lasts for about an hour
-Anterior ends point in opposite directions
-Male genital apertures are raised into papillae and are
inserted into the pairs of spermathecal pores
-Spermatozoa & prostatic fluid are stored in
spermathecae
-After completion of this process, the worms separate

7. The Reproductive Process cont.
 Step 2: Cocoon Formation
-Starts when ovaries mature
-Cocoon-secreting glands of clitellar segments release a viscid
orgelatinous substance that forms a membranous band around
clitellum
-Band hardens into a strong yet elastic tube, which becomes cocoon, or
egg capsule
-Albumen glands produce albumen- eggs are deposited in cocoon
-Worm withdraws itself backwards from band & cocoon slips forward
towards anterior end
-Cocoon receives ova & sperm
-As cocoon is thrown off from the anterior end of the worm, both ends
close up
-Cocoons are oval/spherical & are typically light yellow

8. Bibliography
 "Ecology - Reproduction." WormWatch - Ecology. Nature
Canada, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
 Ramel, Gordon. "Earthworms." Earthworms (The Oligochaeta). N.p.,
n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
 Shirish. "Reproductive System of Earthworms.” Science, Technology &
Literature. N.p., 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.