Answer:
Mating in
earthworm is a unique process, earthworm is a hermaphrodite organism.
Breeding in
earthworm takes place during rainy season and begins with copulation soon after
maturation of the sperms.
The gametic
exchange and the physiology reproduction during mating can described asbelow
(i) Earthworms
are protandrous animal (i.e., maturation of sperm takes place muchearlier then
that of ova).
(ii) Mating
process in earthworm occurs through cross-fertilization.
(iii) The
mating process involves exchange of sperms between the two worms.
(iv) Two
individuals from adjacent burrows half emerge out and lie in contact with
eachother, and opposite gonadal opening exchange the packets of sperms called spermatophores.
(v) During
the process, the skin encircling male pore, elevates a little, to form a
temporary papilla that fits like a penis into the opposite spermathecal pore to
keep it open.
(vi) After
filling of spermathecal, the copulating worm moves a bit to adjust another pair
of spermathecae to face the male pores of the other. This is accomplished in
about anhour's copulation.
(vii) Within
the spermathecae, the sperms mostly remain in their diverticula and the
ampullais associated with the secretion of nutritive substances' for the
sperms.
(viii) The sperm
and egg are passed into cocoon which is, secreted by clitellar gland.
(ix)
Fertilisation is therefore external and cross fertilization,
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