Worms

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'Worm' is the common name given to a diverse group of invertebrate animals that have a long, soft body and no legs. Worms are found worldwide, in freshwater, seawater, and on land. Some worms living in the ground help to condition the soil while others thrive as parasites of plants and animals, including humans. Several other worms may be free-living, or nonparasitic. Worms play an important part in all the ecosystems of the world.

Segmented worms

Segmented worms belong to the Phylum Annelida. They include earthworms, marine bristle worms and leeches.

More about Segmented worms

Flatworms

Flatworms belong to the Phylum Platyhelminthes. They are so-called because they have flattened bodies. Many are parasitic, but some are freeliving in water or in the soil.

More about Flatworms
- Shovel-headed Garden Worm

Other worms

There are many other groups of worms, including the threadworms, hookworms and roundworms (Phylum Nematoda), the horsehair worms (Phylum Nematomorpha) and the velvet worms (Phylum Onychophora).

More about Other worms
- Gordian Worms
- Velvet worm

Worms in the Australian Museum Collections

The Australian Museum houses a large and important collection of oligochaetes (earthworms), polychaetes (bristle worms), and leeches, with extensive polychaete collections from Australia and the Indo-Pacific.