You can see that this is a mature worm because of the well developed clitellum – a swollen gland that secretes fluid for building a cocoon for the eggs. As this litter-dwelling worm spends some of its time in the open, its body is darkly pigmented for protection against ultraviolet light.
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Soil Bugs – An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Soil Invertebrates
Photograph by Alastair Robertson and Maria Minor
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