Species Ecological categories A1 Cells (D × L) µm A2 Cells (D × L) µm A3 Cells (D × L) µm B Cells (D × L) µm M. houlleti Anecic (vertical burrower, phytogeophagous) P: 13 × 24 N: id P:22 × 29 N: 9 P: 27 × 34 N:10 P: 17 × 34 N:8 M. posthuma Endogeic (horizontal burrower, geophagous) P: 8 × 19 N: id P: 14 × 20 N: 7 Absent? P: 13 × 24 N: 7 E. gammiei Endoanecic (Vertical burrower, geophagous) P:10 × 18 N: id P: 20 × 27 N: 7 P: 24 × 34 N: 8 P: 16 × 23 N: 9 E. eugeniae Epigeic (Surface litter feeder, vermicomposting worms). P: 6 × 14 N: 2.5 P:11 × 15 N: 8 P:8 × 11 N: 3 P: 13 × 18 N: 5

P: Perikaryon: N: Nucleus; id: ill defined; D × L: Diameter × Length; N: Number of cells considered. Table 2: Different earthworm species, their ecological categories and average dimension (N=20) of NSC types