The common earthworm is the best known, most common, and largest species of earthworm in Europe. There are around 400 species of the Lumbricidae family in Europe; around 50 are native to Central Europe.
The common earthworm is elongated and cylindrical with a pointed front end and a flattened, blunt rear end. In sexually mature animals, a lighter-colored and thickened belt (clitellum) is visible in the front third of the body from February to August.
The common earthworm grows to a length of 9 to 30 cm. Its body consists of up to 160 segments, each with four pairs of short, movable bristles. The common earthworm can live two to eight years.