Earthworms!

Earthworms are important to our environment. Mixing, digging, burrowing, fertilizing; earthworms have a big impact on soil.

The Ancient Egyptians realized this, and Cleopatra declared them sacred. If you were to remove an earthworm from Egypt, you would lose your life. Farmers would not touch them for fear that they might offend the god of fertility.

Earthworms can burrow up to fifteen feet underground. They have a brain, five hearts and they “breathe” through their skin. 82 percent of an earthworm is protein. They are food for people around the world. There are approximately 2,700 different types of earthworms. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, called them the intestines of the earth.

An earthworm’s length depends on what type it is, how many segments it has and how old it is. The largest earthworm recorded was found in South Africa and was twenty two feet long! Earthworms eat dirt and sometimes feed on decomposing animal remains.

Earthworms have a very intricate design and are an important part of God’s creation. Although they may be slimy, dirty and just plain gross, our world today would not be the same without these worms.
-Grayce, South Carolina