The Nikon MicroscopyU confocal microscopy image gallery was created with a PCM-2000 confocal scanning system interfaced to a Nikon Eclipse E600 upright microscope. Images were recorded in successive z-axis serial sections with C-Imaging Systems software with excitation illumination provided by an argon-ion and/or a helium-neon laser.

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Back to the first confocal sequence of lumbricus.

Earthworms, also known as nightcrawlers, are basically nocturnal soil-dwelling animals that surface during the night hours or cloudy days when temperatures are cooler. These soft-bodied creatures do not have lungs but absorb oxygen through permeable thin layers of skin. The earthworm must avoid moisture-evaporating effects of sunlight, which can dry out its skin and cause it to die from suffocation. Mucus secreting cells keep delicate body tissue moist and also provide lubricants that help ease the worm's passage through soil particles and decaying organic material. As soil dwelling animals, earthworms live in deep, dark, long, and narrow tunnels or burrows underneath the ground.

The earthworm has a tubular body that can be divided into 100 or more body segments. When the animal moves, each segment successively contracts and expands. Pairs of minute bristles that are attached to the segments are pushed against the soil to help propel the small creature forward. Earthworms also use these bristles to hold tightly to the walls of its burrow when attacked by a predator. In some instances, the worm will be spilt into two pieces as the hungry bird tugs and the worm clings to the earth. Fortunately, some species have the capability to regenerate and the portion of the worm that is left behind is able to wriggle back into its burrow to regrow the missing segments.