DEEP LOOK: Earthworm Love is Cuddly ... and Complicated | Earthworms know a thing or two about romance. They cozy up with a mate inside tubes of slime, then follow a series of intricate steps to make cocoons full of baby worms. | |
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Earthworms Make Cocoons | When it reaches adulthood, an earthworm develops a fleshy area on its body called the clitellum. Once it mates, the earthworm produces a sheath with its clitellum and shimmies it down its body. The protein-rich ring moves over tiny holes, where it gathers eggs and some of the collected sperm. Then, it slips off the worm and becomes a cocoon with one or more developing earthworms inside. Below is a link to the part in our video where you can see how a cocoon is formed. | |
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A Deep Look at Nature’s Mating Rituals | Happy Valentine’s Day💘 from DEEP LOOK! When it comes to wooing and keeping a mate, animals will do anything: They'll dance; they'll play music; they'll even stab each other. See some extraordinary courtship rituals in our "Wild Love" playlist. | |
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We hope you enjoyed this closer look at DEEP LOOK's newest episode and a related playlist from our archives. 🐞 |
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This newsletter is made possible by KQED members. Donate now to join our member community in supporting local public media. | |
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