Are earthworms members of the clade Ecdysozoa?

No, earthworms are not members of the clade Ecdysozoa. Instead, they belong to the clade Annelida, which is a group of segmented worms. Ecdysozoa is a clade that includes animals such as arthropods (like insects and crustaceans) and nematodes (roundworms), which are characterized by their ability to molt their exoskeleton.

Earthworms, being annelids, do not exhibit this molting behavior. Instead, they have a soft body that is segmented into rings. Their body structure and reproductive strategies differ significantly from those of organisms within the Ecdysozoa clade. Therefore, while earthworms play crucial roles in the ecosystem, they are distinctly categorized outside the Ecdysozoa grouping.

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