Dendrodrilus rubidus: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Annelida
Class
Clitellata
Order
Crassiclitellata
Family
Lumbricidae
Genus
Dendrodrilus
Species
Dendrodrilus rubidus
Scientific Name
Dendrodrilus rubidus

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Dendrodrilus rubidus

Bimastos rubidus is a species of earthworm in the family Lumbricidae. Formerly placed in its own genus and referred to as Dendrodrilus rubidus, it is now believed to be a member of the genus Bimastos. It is a widespread introduced species, occurring on every continent except Antarctica, as well as many islands. Though originally believed to be native to Europe, fossil and genetic evidence suggests that it actually originated in North America. It is sometimes used to produce vermicompost and as fishing bait, and is marketed under many nonspecific names, including red wiggler, jumping red wiggler, red trout worm, jumbo red worm, and pink worm. Other common names include bank worm, tree worm, and gilt tail.

Highly variable in appearance, individuals of this species may appear red-violet, chestnut brown or even a bright purplish colour, with the colouration being darker on the upper side than on the underside. Measuring 2 to 9 cm (1 to 4 in) in length and 2 to 4 mm (0 to 0 in) in width, the body of this worm is divided into many segments, with the exact segment that certain structures are located on varying between individuals. These variations have been used to classify individuals into four different forms, though they differ only in physical anatomy and not on the genetic level. Some of these forms reproduce sexually while others are parthenogenetic, capable of producing offspring without fertilisation. Members of this species are hermaphroditic, bearing both male and female reproductive organs.

Though it prefers cool, moist conditions in substrate with large amounts of organic matter, this species is highly adaptable and can inhabit a wide range of habitats such as woodlands, caves and the nests of ants. It is even tolerant of polluted soils, having been found in areas contaminated with chemicals such as arsenic, copper and nickel. This adaptability has allowed it to colonise many areas outside of its native range, which it typically reaches when unintentionally transported in soil, timber or plants, or when bait worms are discarded by anglers. In such areas it is typically considered an invasive species, as its activity alters soil and leaf litter in ways that can cause the local extinction of native species.

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Dendrodrilus rubidus in languages:

Bokmål
stubbemeitemark
Chinese
紅叢林蚓
English
Gilt-tail
English
Bank Worm
English
Bark worm
English
Barkeating Earthworm
English
Bark-eating Earthworm
English
Small Litter Worm
Lithuanian
Raudonasis sliekas

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

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Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Татьяна, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Ulises Balza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dave Holland, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dave Holland, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dave Holland, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Degtyarev Nikolai Ivanovich, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Degtyarev Nikolai Ivanovich, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Degtyarev Nikolai Ivanovich, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©pmbrousseau, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©pmbrousseau, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©pmbrousseau, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Alfredo Eloisa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Ivlev-Konstantin-Sergeevith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©andiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©andiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©andiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©andiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Gonzalo Mucientes Sandoval, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Gonzalo Mucientes Sandoval, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Matt Bowser, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dominic DiGregorio, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dominic DiGregorio, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dominic DiGregorio, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dominic DiGregorio, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Dominic DiGregorio, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Dendrodrilus rubidus
©Geir Drange, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

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