Mating in earthworm is a unique process , earthworm is a hermaphrodite organism Breeding in earthworm takes place during rainy season and beings with copulation soon after maturation of the sperms .
the gametic exchange and the physiology reproduction mating can can described as below
(i) Earthworms are protandrous animal (i.e., maturation of sperms takes place place much earlier then that of ova).
(ii) Mating process in earthworm occurs through cross - fertilisation .
(iii) the mating process involes exchange of sperms between the worms
(iv) Two indivduals from adacent burrows half emerge out lie in contact with each other ,and opposite gonadal opening exchange the packets of sperms called spermatopores .
(v) During the precess , the skin encircling male pore elevates alitte to form a temporary papilla that fits like a penis into the opposite spermathecal pore to keep it open .
(vi) After of spermathecal , the copulating worm moves a bit to adjust another pair of spermathecae to face the male pores of the other .this is accompislished in about an hours's copulation .
(vii) Within the spermathecase , the sperms mostly remain in their diverticula and the ampulla is associated with the secretion of mutritive substance for the sperms.
(viii) the sperm and egg are passed into cocoon which is decreted by clitellar gland.
(ix) Fertilisation is therefore exterfore external and cross fertilisation .
