That's where scientist and explorer Phil Torres and his friends come in. Unfortunately, not everyone can make the trek to see the creatures in person. Its main diet is said to be Microchaetus ( ).South America is home to massive earthworms that continue to amaze scientists. Its distribution is in the Eastern Cape, from East London to southern Pondoland. The giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani, and and ) is the largest-bodied chrysochlorid in southern Africa.

They penetrate the soils to depths of 30-70 cm. The largest earthworms on Earth apparently belong to the genus Microchaetus, in the family Glossoscolecidae (or Microchaetidae). It is capable of autotomy, shedding the posterior of the body in order to escape from predators. One megascolecid, Amynthas corticis (up to 17 cm long, ), is parthenogenetic. The distribution of this species is limited to less than 50,000 hectares, in the Bass River valley, east of Melbourne. Hatchlings have a length of 20 cm, and take up to 5 years to reach maturity. Megascolides australis is long-lived and slow-growing. of earthworms in Australia is the giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis, and scroll in and ), which has a mean length of 80 cm (in the largest individuals, up to 4 m when stretched), a width of 2 cm, and a body mass of about 200 g (up to 400 g). The largest-bodied of the approximately 1000 spp. Its habitat is indigenous shrublands in eastern Washington state and western Idaho. It has a length of up to 3 m, and a width of up to 2.5 cm. Large earthworms in North America and Australia belong to the family Megascolecidae.ĭriloleirus macelfreshi (Oregon giant earthworm), up to 1.3 m long, has a habitat of riparian forestĭriloleirus americanus (giant palouse earthworm), occurs in Washington state (probably the Columbia River basalt area?). Present in Madagascar (distinctive family). The large-bodied earthworms of the southern hemisphere belong to four families, containing many genera.

Microchaetus, the largest earthworms on Earth?

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