Earthworms are hermaphrodites, but self-fertilization does not occur. Why?
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Correct answer: They are protandrous — sperm matures before eggs
Earthworms are protandrous, meaning the testes mature earlier than the ovaries. This ensures cross-fertilization during copulation.
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More Morphology of Earthworm questions
- Two pairs of testes are present in segments:
- Fertilization and embryo development in earthworms occur inside:
- The development of earthworms is described as:
- The common Indian earthworms are Pheretima and:
- In earthworms, the dorsal surface of the body is marked by a dark median mid-dorsal line which represents the:
- The first segment of the earthworm, which contains the mouth, is called the: