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Home » Earthworms: Eyes

Earthworms: Eyes

By Janice VanCleave

Question:

Do earthworms have eyes?

Answer:

Earthworms don’t have eyes, but they do move away from light. Earthworms can and do respond to light because they have light-sensitive cells scattered in their outer skin, especially at their anterior (front-head end) These cells send messages to the earthworm’s brain, which specializes in directing body movement in response to light. An earthworm’s brain doesn’t do much else. In fact, the earthworm can live without its brain. One source of information noted that without its brain, changes in the earthworm’s general behavior would hardly be noticeable.

The earthworm’s body is covered with chemoreceptors, which are cells that allow the worm to taste things. Chemoreceptors are tiny sense organs which detect chemicals in the soil.


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Filed Under: Biology Tagged With: earthworms

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The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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