Different Worms Around the World

Bootlace Worm

• The bootlace worm is the longest in the world. It is a flat worm and lives in the ocean off the shores of Western Europe. They can grow to lengths of 100 feet and sometimes are found coiled in rock beds off beaches of under the sand. Handling the bootlace worm is made difficult by its pungent odor and the slimy substance it emits when touched.

Goldmine Worms

• In 2011 a new worm was discovered in South African goldmines. The Halicephalobus mephisto was found more than two miles below the Earth's surface. They are the deepest living creature to live in fracture waters, which are seepage of water deep within the ground. The worms are black in coloration and scientists estimate they have existed for thousands of years.

Parasitic Worms

• Certain parasitic worms found in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, the Caribbean and South America target the human lymph node system. Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori worms are passed through mosquitoes bites. They are round, thread-shaped worms. An affected person shows symptoms of swelling and infection five to 18 months after being infiltrated. The worms can be fatal if their hosts are left untreated.

Earthworms

• Earthworms are common in moist soils across the United States. There are 700 species of earthworms. They have both male and female characteristics and play an important role in healthy soils. They support plant growth by channeling water movement and by mixing and nourishing soils. Earthworms are reddish brown in coloration and can vary from a few inches to a few feet in length.