A Worm As Big As A Snake: The Giant Gippsland Earthworm

Imagine stumbling upon an earthworm as giant as a snake! No need to pinch yourself; you’re not dreaming. This is the Australian Giant Gippsland earthworm, a remarkable creature that stretches the imagination as well as it does its long body. Known scientifically as Megascolides australis, this giant lawn worm is one of the world’s largest earthworms. It lives primarily in the lush soils of Australia, and it has fascinated scientists and nature enthusiasts alike for centuries. Wildly enough, it isn’t the only massive Australian earthworm!

The Giant Gippsland Earthworm is the largest earthworm species, on average, based on circumference and weight. But it doesn’t hold the title for largest (i.e. longest) earthworm ever. That honor goes to the African giant earthworm with a Guinness Book of World Records record-breaking length of 21 feet (6.7 meters)! Normally, this species only grows to about 6 feet (1.8 meters). And, even though it is long, it is not as wide or weighty as the Giant Gippsland.

All About The Giant Gippsland Earthworm

Length and Weight

The Gippsland Giant Earthworm grows to an impressive size range. The average adult worm measures about 1 meter in length (3.25 feet) and weighs around 200 grams (7 ounces, or 1 softball or 1 cup of sugar). However, some exceptional specimens can stretch up to 3 meters (10 feet!) and weigh as much as 500 grams (17 ounces). These size variations occur because of their ability to expand and contract their bodies, similar to an accordion, which can double their length under certain conditions.

Color and Appearance

This species is distinguished by its striking coloration and substantial body structure. The Gippsland Giant Earthworm has a dark purple head that transitions into a blue-grey body.

Segment Count

An adult Gippsland Giant Earthworm comprises approximately 300 to 400 body segments. This segmentation is crucial for their movement and flexibility in the soil, allowing them to navigate through their underground environments effectively.

Habitat Preferences

The Gippsland Giant Earthworm thrives in specific environmental conditions crucial for its survival. These giant earthworms are predominantly found in habitats with high soil moisture throughout the year, which is vital for creating extensive networks of burrows. They rarely to never go above ground. These worms spend their whole lives underground in their burrows. This makes them hard to see, except for when the soil gets disturbed by landslides, heavy rainfall, or human activity like plowing and dredging.

This massive earthworm is only found in a small portion of Australia, called Gippsland. It’s range is extremely small, covering just 154 square miles (40,000 hectares) in a very bottom of the country, just outside of Melbourne. Because this worm exists almost entirely underground, many people don’t think about it or consider it’s habitat or fragility. The Giant Gippsland Earthworm doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.

Preferred Soil Types

Gippsland Giant Earthworms are typically found in deep, blue-grey clayey soils, which are primarily formed from Cretaceous rocks. These soils, found along creek banks and on wet, south-facing hillslopes, are critical for maintaining the moisture these earthworms need. Terracettes on these slopes help retain water and make suitable habitats.

Typical Locations and Depths

These earthworms prefer environments along creek banks, adjacent to soaks, or on south-facing hillslopes with high moisture content. They inhabit burrows that are often deeper than 1 meter (3.25 feet) and provide a stable environment that is not prone to drying out. The burrows themselves are a crucial aspect of their habitat, being very wet with some free flow of water, which is essential for the worms’ movement and respiration.

Microhabitats

Microhabitats for the Gippsland Giant Earthworm include small pockets of suitable habitat critical for survival. These areas are often characterized by well-draining clay soils that remain moist throughout the year but are not waterlogged or prone to seasonal flooding. Such conditions are typically found along the banks and terraces of streams, drainage channels, and steep slopes where underground springs or higher soil moisture is present.

The conservation of these habitats is essential, as changes in soil moisture due to activities like dense planting can render the soil unsuitable for the earthworms. Awareness about the potential damage from such activities is being raised, emphasizing the need to maintain the natural moisture balance in these critical areas.

Unique Behaviors Of The Giant Australian Earthworm

Response to Vibrations

The Gippsland Giant Earthworm exhibits a highly sensitive reaction to vibrations above ground. When people or animals walk over their habitat, the vibrations travel down into their burrows, prompting the earthworms to move. This movement is not just a slight shift but is significant enough to produce distinctive gurgling sounds that can be heard from the surface. If this sounds a little familiar, you might be thinking about Dune!

Gurgling Sounds

One of the most intriguing behaviors of the Gippsland Giant Earthworm is the audible gurgling or squelching sounds they make. These sounds occur as the earthworms rush through their soaked burrows in response to external disturbances. The loudness of these sounds can surprise anyone fortunate enough to hear them.

Movement Patterns

Unlike many other earthworm species, the Gippsland Giant Earthworm has unique movement patterns adapted to its underground lifestyle. These earthworms move by passing waves of contraction and relaxation along their body, aided by protrusible setae (bristles) that help them anchor firmly within their burrows. Their movement is so efficient that it allows them to navigate through the soil and avoid emerging on the surface, which they seldom do. Additionally, they are adapted to breathe through their skin. This means they require a moist environment, which is maintained by mucous and body fluids excreted onto their skin.

Current Status and Conservation

Endangerment Reasons

The Giant Gippsland Earthworm faces significant threats primarily due to human activities that alter its delicate habitat. Key issues include changes in local hydrology and physical and chemical soil disturbances. Specifically, actions that cause changes to the water table, such as dense revegetation, and physical disturbances like road construction and intensive farming, pose severe risks. Additionally, the use of pesticides and other chemicals can further degrade their habitat.

Protective Measures

Several conservation measures have been implemented in response to the vulnerability of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm. The species is listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Conservation strategies include developing and implementing recovery plans that detail necessary actions to protect the earthworm’s habitat and ensure its survival. These actions involve fine-scale mapping of the species distribution, habitat requirement studies, and engaging with private landowners to establish conservation covenants to protect identified populations.

Future Prospects

The conservation of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm hinges on enhancing our understanding of its ecological needs and the impacts of human activity. Priorities include minimizing the impacts of development activities and exploring potential breeding programs in captivity to support recovery efforts. Local planning measures also play a crucial role in ensuring the conservation of this species by protecting and enhancing its habitat, thus securing a future for the Giant Gippsland Earthworm in its natural environment.

The Giant Gippsland Earthworm’s current status and the conservation measures in place to safeguard its future make it clear that our actions today will determine the survival of this species tomorrow. The importance of sustainable practices, habitat preservation, and ongoing research cannot be overstated in ensuring that future generations can also marvel at this remarkable species. Let this article stand as a call to action, reminding us of our responsibility to protect and maintain the ecosystems that are home to Earth’s extraordinary creatures, like the Giant Gippsland Earthworm, whose roles in the tapestry of life are both irreplaceable and invaluable.

FAQs

1. How large can Australian earthworms grow?

Australian earthworms can reach impressive sizes. The ‘Gippsland Giant’ or Megascolides australis, which is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, can grow up to 3 meters in length (almost 10 feet!). Another species, Digaster, found near Kyogle in north-eastern New South Wales, can grow over 150 cm long (almost 5 feet) and is as thick as a garden hose.

2. Which earthworm holds the record for being the largest in the world?

The largest earthworm in the world is Microchaetus rappi, known as the African giant earthworm. It belongs to the family Microchaetidae and is the largest of the segmented worms. On average, it measures about 1.4 meters (4.5 feet) in length, but it can grow up to 6.7 meters (22 feet) and weigh over 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).