Giant Gippsland earthworm
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| Giant Gippsland earthworm | ||||||||||||||
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| Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878 |
The giant Gippsland earthworm, Megascolides australis, is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species. These giant earthworms average at 80 cm long and 2 cm in diameter but can reach 3 m in length. They have a dark purple head and a pinkish-grey body.
They live in the subsoil of blue, grey or red clay soils along stream banks and some south or west facing hills of their remaining habitat which is in Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.
These worms live in deep burrow systems and require water in their environment to respirate. These worms rarely leave their moist burrows. They have relatively long lifespans for invertebrates and can take 5 years to reach maturity. They breed in the warmer months and produce large egg cocoons which are laid in their burrows. When these worms hatch in 12 months they are already 20 cm long.
They can sometimes be heard in their habitat making gurgling sounds as they move underground.
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[edit] Threatened status
Like many of Australia’s native species, European colonisation has caused their decline and they are now a protected species. earth worms can grow to great lengths. the can travel many miles underground. they never see light.
[edit] See also
- Giant Palouse earthworm - This is a supposedly endangered North American species.
- Lake Pedder earthworm - Listed as the first "extinct" worm species from its original unique Tasmanian habitat.
- River Mekong earthworm - Another elongate species approaching 3 m (ca. 9 ft) - see http://opuscula.elte.hu/PDF/Tomus36/3_Blakemore.pdf.
[edit] References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). Megascolides australis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU D2 v2.3)
