Clitellum

The clitellum is a thickened glandular section of the body wall in earthworms and leeches, that secretes a viscid sac in which the eggs are deposited. It is present about 2 centimetres (0.79 in) behind the anterior end of the body (around 14th, 15th and 16th segments).

A clitellum is part of the reproductive system of clitellates, a subgroup of annelids which contains oligochaetes (earthworms) and hirudineans (leeches). The clitellum is a thick, saddle-like, ring found in the epidermis (skin) of the worm, usually with a light colored pigment. To form a cocoon for its eggs, the clitellum secretes a viscous fluid. This organ is used in sexual reproduction of some annelids. The clitellum becomes apparent in mature annelids but may be hard to locate visually in younger annelids. In leeches, it appears seasonally. Its color is usually slightly lighter than that of the body of the annelid. Occasionally, living segments of the worm will be shed with the clitellum.

See also

• Earthworm reproduction

References

This annelid-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Annelid anatomy Annelid stubs Animal anatomy stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? New Gate Fort Loudoun (Tennessee) Look at other dictionaries: Clitellum — Clitellum, »Gürtel« des Regenwurms (s.d.) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon clitellum — ● clitellum nom masculin (latin clitellae, bât) Région renflée du corps des vers de terre et des sangsues, où se forme le cocon nutritif qui abritera les œufs …   Encyclopédie Universelle clitellum — raised band around an earthworm, 1839, Modern Latin, from L. clitellae a pack saddle, dim. of *clitra litter, from PIE *klei tro , from root *klei (see LEAN (Cf. lean) (v.)) …   Etymology dictionary Clitellum — Regenwürmer Ein Tauwurm (Lumbricus terrestris) beim Verlassen seiner Wohnröhre (Nachtaufnahme) Systematik ohne Rang: U …   Deutsch Wikipedia Clitellum — Structure glandulaire épidermique caractéristique d une famille d Annélides, les Clitellates (qui comprend les Oligochètes (lombric) et les Achètes (sangsue)) et qui s étend généralement sur plusieurs anneaux (ou métamères) dans la moitié… …   Wikipédia en Français clitellum — noun (plural clitella) Etymology: New Latin, alteration of Latin clitellae packsaddle Date: 1839 a thickened glandular section of the body wall of some annelids that secretes a viscid sac in which the eggs are deposited …   New Collegiate Dictionary clitellum — n. [L. clitellae, pack saddle] (ANNELIDA: Oligochaeta) A glandular annular swelling of the epidermis; the gland cells that secrete material to form a cocoon; cingulum …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology clitellum — /kluy tel euhm/, n., pl. clitella / tel euh/. a ring or saddle shaped region of glandular tissue in the body wall of certain annelids, as earthworms and some leeches, that after copulation secretes a cocoon in which the eggs and sperm are… …   Universalium clitellum — noun A glandular swelling in the epidermis of some annelid worms; it secretes a viscous fluid in which the eggs are deposited …   Wiktionary Clitellum — Clitẹllum   das, s/...la, gürtelartiger, nur während der Fortpflanzungszeit bestehender Wulst in oder nahe der Geschlechtsregion der Gürtelwürmer …   Universal-Lexikon 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”