Did you know that there are more than 22,000 species of worms? Or that they can survive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth? Worms are fascinating creatures, and there is a lot to learn about them. This blog post will discuss 4 surprising facts about worms that you probably didn’t know.

Too Much Light Will Paralyze Worms

One interesting fact about worms is that they will become paralyzed if exposed to light for too long. This is because their bodies are not designed to handle the exposure to light. When a worm is exposed to light, it will start to produce a chemical called serotonin. This chemical will cause the worm’s muscles to contract and become paralyzed.

Worms Have No Lungs and Only Skin

Worms breathe through their skin, so they need to stay moist. If they get too dry, they will suffocate. Worms don’t have lungs as we do, so they rely on diffusion to get oxygen from the air into their bloodstream. Diffusion is when molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. So, for oxygen to diffuse into a worm’s bloodstream, there must be a higher concentration of oxygen molecules outside of the worm than inside the worm.

Worms Can Regenerate Some Body Parts

Worms can regenerate their bodies. If a worm loses a body part, it can regrow that part of its body. This process is called regeneration. It can take weeks or even months for a worm to regenerate its body fully. Worms are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs.

Worms reproduce by joining together their bodies, with each worm exchanging sperm. This process is called copulation. After fertilization, the worms lay eggs that hatch into young worms.

Worms Have 5 Cold-Blooded Hearts

Worms are ectothermic, which means they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. As a result, they are most active when it’s warm and tend to slow down or become inactive when it’s cold. Worms also have five hearts that pump blood throughout their bodies.

Worms are fascinating creatures with a lot of interesting features. This blog post discussed five amazing facts about worms that you may not have known. Worms will become paralyzed if they are exposed to light for too long, breathe through their skin, and have no lungs, they can regenerate some segments of their body, and they are cold-blooded with five hearts. Next time you see a worm, take a moment to appreciate these amazing creatures.