Dale Hartlen, age 11, of Oromoc
The earthworm needs oxygen for his vital body processes, just as we do Also like us, he takes it from the air and returns waste carbon dioxide However, has breathing organs are very different from ours He has no nose and no lungs with which to breathe air in and out However he is a very small animal and he does not need much oxygen to keep his body processes going
This oxygen is taken in by the worm is moist skin It comes in contact with the finest of fine blood vessels near the surface One of the vital organs inside his small body acts like a simplified heart to pump the oxygen‑rich blood to the tissues