Two common earthworms on moist soil among fallen leaves.

Common earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) on soil.

Creator: David Perez (DPC)

Licence: CC BY 3.0

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Species record

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

Explore the Common Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The common earthworm, also called a nightcrawler, is native to Europe and has been introduced to parts of North America. It is a deep-burrowing earthworm that feeds on leaf litter, moving organic material into lower soil layers. Large populations can alter forest-floor communities and nutrient cycling.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Segmented worms
  3. Class: Earthworms and leeches
  4. Order: Crassiclitellata
  5. Family: Lumbricidae
  6. Genus: Lumbricus

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
soil, deep burrows, leaf litter
Selected regions
Europe, North America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • Common earthworms feed on fallen leaves and help move leaf litter into deeper soil layers.

Sources and attribution