User:Patel38neel/Octolasion Lacteum

Octolasion Lacteum
Octolasion Lacteum is a species on worms natively found in New Zealand's West Coast Soils and Canterbury.

Taxonomy
Octolasion Lacteum is a species that belongs in the genus Octolasion, Family Lubricidae, Order Opisthopora, Class Citellata, Phylum Annelia, and lastly Kingdom Animalia. They were first discovered in N.A. Martin's garden in New Zealand around 1970s.

Habitat
Mostly all Octolasion Lacteum live under soil in moist environments mainly. They are commonly found inside mould and muddy soil. They can be found in a broader range of environmental conditions unlike other worm species. They can be found in acidic soil with a pH of 4.7 as well as less organic soils with a OM of 7.3%. In some cases, they can also be found in a OM of between 4.3% and 5.5%. Also, they are found to compete with plants for resources. As they are known to eat a lot, plant suck up the nutrients available for them limiting the growth of the worms. In order for them to survive, the environment needs to be plant free in a moist muddy environment. They are also found to be able to survive in areas of high radiation exposure.

Importance to humans
As tiny as they may be, they have a important role in which they help the ecosystem as well as humans.