How do I know which end of an earthworm is which?
The earthworms head is closer to its clitellum (saddle). An earthworm also moves forward with its head first, so it is always worth looking at which direction it is moving in, particularly if it is a juvenile and does not have a clitellum (saddle).
If you look closely you will be able to see an earthworm’s mouth, which is on the second segment of a worm known as the peristomium. This is used along with the first segment the prostomium to help us identify the species of earthworm.
To find more out about the features of an earthworm please visit our Earthworm Identification page.