Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis), recorded as Endangered
Giant Gippsland earthworm (Megascolides australis). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Giant Gippsland earthworm

Megascolides australis

The giant Gippsland earthworm is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Megascolides australis
Recorded from
Australia
Taxonomy
Clitellata · Crassiclitellata · Megascolecidae · Megascolides

The animal

It is typically 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 2 cm (1 in) in diameter although some specimens can reach 3 m (10 ft) in length. On average, they weigh about 200 g (7 oz).

Range and habitat

The giant Gippsland earthworm is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

Gippsland earthworm colonies are small and isolated, and the species' low reproductive rate and slow maturation make those small populations vulnerable.

Giant Gippsland earthworm is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Giant Gippsland earthworm, Wikidata item Q141602. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Oregon giant earthworm (Driloleirus macelfreshi), recorded as EndangeredEN

Oregon giant earthworm

Driloleirus macelfreshi
Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii

Quick answers

What is Giant Gippsland earthworm?
The giant Gippsland earthworm is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species.
What is the conservation status of Giant Gippsland earthworm?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Megascolides australis. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Giant Gippsland earthworm live?
The giant Gippsland earthworm is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species.
Why is Giant Gippsland earthworm in crisis?
Gippsland earthworm colonies are small and isolated, and the species' low reproductive rate and slow maturation make those small populations vulnerable.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Megascolides australis?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Giant Gippsland earthworm a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.