Aders' duiker vs common earthworm

Cephalophus adersi compared with Lumbricus terrestris

Key Differences

• Aders' duiker is Critically Endangered while common earthworm is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aders' duiker	common earthworm
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Annelida (Segmented Worms)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Clitellata (Clitellata)
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Crassiclitellata (Crassiclitellata)
Family	Bovidae (Bovids)	Lumbricidae
Genus	Cephalophus	Lumbricus
Species	Cephalophus adersi	Lumbricus terrestris

Evolutionary Relationship

Aders' duiker and common earthworm share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Aders' duiker

CR — Critically Endangered

common earthworm

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aders' duiker	common earthworm
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Aders' duiker

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

common earthworm

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Aders' duiker

The Aders' duiker (Cephalophus adersi) is a species in the genus Cephalophus. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeo.

common earthworm

<em>Lumbricus terrestris</em>, the common earthworm, is one of the most ecologically significant invertebrates in temperate soils and is native to Europe, with introduced populations established across North America and other regions globally. The species is not evaluated by the IUCN Red List. <em>Lumbricus terrestris</em> belongs to the family Lumbricidae and is widely distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries in its introduced range. It typically inhabits moist, organic-rich soils in gardens, agricultural fields, woodlands, and grasslands, burrowing deep into the substrate and surfacing at night or after rainfall to feed on decomposing leaf litter and soil organic matter. As a detritivore and ecosystem engineer, the common earthworm dramatically improves soil structure, aeration, drainage, and fertility through its burrowing activity and the production of nutrient-rich castings. It is a critical food source for a wide range of predators including birds, mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates. Charles Darwin extensively studied <em>Lumbricus terrestris</em> and recognized its profound role in soil formation and ecosystem functioning in his 1881 publication on the subject. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.