1. Earthworms breathe through their skin. Their skin needs to stay moist for them to be able to breathe. Oxygen from the air passes through their moist skin into their bloodstream, while carbon dioxide moves out in the opposite direction. This process is known as diffusion.
2. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. During reproduction, two earthworms align their ventral surfaces against each other. They exchange sperm cells, which are stored in sacs called spermathecae. After mating, both worms can produce egg capsules containing fertilized eggs. The eggs develop in the soil and hatch into young earthworms. This unique reproductive process allows earthworms to reproduce without the need for a mate.
