Is an earthworm a decomposer or detritivore?

While decomposers break down dead, organic materials, detritivores—like millipedes, earthworms, and termites—eat dead organisms and wastes.

Worms are part of a special group of species that eat dead or decaying organic matter. They are called Decomposers. Decomposers are very important in our food chain, because they recycle the energy, and help us to start all over again!

Yes, earthworms are decomposers. They feed on dead and decaying organic matter and faeces. They break down detritus inside their body and get the nutrients. The extra material is excreted out as worm castings.

Earthworms and bacteria are also Decomposers. The biological term for decomposers is saprotrophs. Both these types of organisms recycle nutrients in the ecosystems.

Detritivores are often invertebrate insects such as mites, beetles, butterflies and flies; mollusks such as slugs and snails; or soil-dwelling earthworms, millipedes and woodlice.
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• Earthworms.
• Jellyfish.
• Millipedes.
• Seahorses.
• Woodlice.

Earth worms are called detrivores Because they break down the detritus I.e. the dead plant and animal remains including faecal matter into smaller particles.

This level is made up of herbivores: bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, nematodes, mites, snails, slugs, earthworms, millipedes, sowbugs and worms. Note that some types of mites are carnivores.

Worms do not have teeth. Their food is softened by moisture or by microorganisms Which break it down. Food is further broken down in the worms’ gizzard, which contains hard particles and muscles which grind ingested food.

Basically, there are four types of decomposers, namely Fungi, insects, earthworms, and bacteria.

Earthworms are also scavengers, but they only break down plants. Once a scavenger is done, the decomposers take over, and finish the job. Many kinds of decomposers are microscopic, meaning that they can’t be seen without a microscope.

After scavengers and detritivores feed on dead organic matter, some unused energy and organic compounds still remain. For example, Scavengers cannot consume bones, feathers, and fur of dead animals, and detritivores cannot consume wood and other indigestible plant materials.

Earthworms eat soil! Their nutrition comes from things in soil, such as Decaying roots and leaves. Animal manures are an important food source for earthworms. They eat living organisms such as nematodes, protozoans, rotifers, bacteria, fungi in soil.

This level is made up of herbivores: bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, nematodes, mites, snails, slugs, earthworms, millipedes, sowbugs and worms.