Question

How do Annelids feed?

Answer 1

Hint Annelids are found to be heterotrophic. They are metamerically segmented invertebrates. They usually have a well-developed complete digestive system which helps them to survive in different habitats according to different structures present in them.

Complete answer:
Phylum Annelida is found to be a very broad phylum belonging to the kingdom Animalia. The Annelids are found in aquatic also as terrestrial environments. They prey on soil, small invertebrates, or dead and decaying organic matter. Consistent with their diverse habitat, their feeding mechanism differs. The digestive system of annelids is often explained as a "tube within a tube body plan." An earthworm obtains its food from the live and dead organic matter which is present in the soil. When food enters into the mouth of the earthworm, its pharynx pushes the food or food particles into its oesophagus where it's then passed into the gizzard.

Additional Information:
Earthworms live in the soil. they're soil-eaters. They extract the nutrients from the dead organic matter mixed within the soil.
Polychaetes are marine. they'll be predator, scavenger, or filter-feeders. Most of them were found to contain a pair of jaws and eversible pharynx to grab the food in their mouth quickly. Jaws are wont to bite food and grasp prey. Filter feeders have special ciliated crowns of palps to filter food going into the mouth.
Leeches are parasites or predators. The predatory species prey on small invertebrates. They mostly contain eversible proboscis. They swallow their prey. The parasitic species prey on the blood of the host. They suck the blood from the body of the host using their anterior suckers. They secrete a peptide called hirudin to stop blood coagulation.

Note:
- The characteristics of the organisms present in the Annelida are as follows:
- The Annelids are coelomate and triploblastic.
- They exhibit organ system level organization.
- Their body is segmented.
- They respire through their body surface.
- Nephridia are the excretory organs.
- They have a well-developed circulatory and digestive system.