The animal with the most hearts is the earthworm, possessing five hearts.
Earthworm's Multiple Hearts Explained
While not hearts in the mammalian sense, earthworms have five pairs of aortic arches that function as hearts. These arches circulate blood throughout the worm's body. Each aortic arch helps to pump blood, ensuring efficient circulation despite the worm's segmented body structure. These arches work together to maintain proper blood flow, distributing oxygen and nutrients to the worm's tissues.
Other Animals with Multiple Hearts
Besides earthworms, other animals also have multiple hearts:
- Octopuses: Have three hearts. Two pump blood through the gills, and one circulates blood to the rest of the body.
- Squids: Similar to octopuses, they also have three hearts for the same purpose.
- Hagfish: Some hagfish species have multiple auxiliary hearts in addition to a main heart.
- Horseshoe Crabs: Possess multiple hearts that assist in circulating blood throughout their bodies.
Why Multiple Hearts?
The presence of multiple hearts in certain animals is often related to their body structure, size, and lifestyle. For example, the octopus's two branchial hearts boost blood pressure to the gills, where oxygen is absorbed, while the systemic heart circulates the oxygenated blood. Similarly, in earthworms, the aortic arches facilitate blood flow in their long, segmented bodies.
