Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Oregon giant earthworm (Driloleirus macelfreshi), recorded as Endangered
Oregon giant earthworm (Driloleirus macelfreshi). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Oregon giant earthworm

Driloleirus macelfreshi

The Oregon giant earthworm is one of the largest earthworms found in North America, growing to more than three feet (0.91 m) in length.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Driloleirus macelfreshi
Taxonomy
Clitellata · Crassiclitellata · Megascolecidae · Megascolides

The animal

Like its cousin, the giant Palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus) of Washington, this species can grow to lengths in excess of 3 feet (0.91 m) and up to an inch (2.5 cm) in width.

First described in 1937, the species is not common.

Range and habitat

The Oregon giant earthworm is endemic to Oregon and has been found at 15 sites in the Willamette Valley and one additional site within the Oregon Coast Range. Like Oregon's other indigenous worms, this species has a narrow range of tolerance for soil conditions, favoring fine textured soils rich in clay. This species is associated with deep, little-disturbed soils in moist mixed forest of Douglas firs, grand firs, and bigleaf maples and is also known from pure Douglas-fir woodlots and occasionally from oak-ash woods.

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

In crisis

Because this species is so elusive, being last sighted in 2008, it is very difficult to estimate populations or assess potential threats. Habitat loss and competition from introduced earthworms are thought to be two major threats. In the Willamette Valley, less than one percent of the original native grasslands remain, and conversion of land for agriculture, industry, and housing development has eliminated much of this species' suitable habitat.

Oregon giant 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 Oregon giant earthworm, Wikidata item Q2711780. 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.

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Quick answers

What is Oregon giant earthworm?
The Oregon giant earthworm is one of the largest earthworms found in North America, growing to more than three feet (0.91 m) in length.
What is the conservation status of Oregon giant earthworm?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Driloleirus macelfreshi. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Oregon giant earthworm live?
The Oregon giant earthworm is endemic to Oregon and has been found at 15 sites in the Willamette Valley and one additional site within the Oregon Coast Range.
Why is Oregon giant earthworm in crisis?
Because this species is so elusive, being last sighted in 2008, it is very difficult to estimate populations or assess potential threats.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Driloleirus macelfreshi?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Oregon giant earthworm a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.