Giant+Gippsland+Earthworm


 * ﻿Giant Gippsland Earthworm - **//Megascolides australis//

__**﻿Phylum: **__ Annelida __**Class: **__ Clitellata __**Location: **__ Australia

__**Size: **__ These are probably the world's largest Earthworm. It grows up 1 meter long, but has the ability to grow anywhere from 6 and a half to 10 feet long.

__**Habitat: **__ They spend most their life underground in the complicated burrow systems they make. It isn't for certain how long they live, but it isn't a very long life. __**Life Cycle: **__ Earthworms are hermaphrodites, so each worm has male parts that make the sperm, and female parts to produce the eggs. Two worms twist around each other and pass the sperm in to each other's body. Then both worms produce eggs, and it usually takes a year for them to hatch. Earthworms do not live a very long life.
 * __Living Requirements: __** They need dirt to live in, and also roots or plant matter to eat. Needs water and moisture to survive.

__**Male and Female Differences: **__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> There aren't any considering that each Earthworm is a hermaphrodite.


 * __<span style="color: #26e316; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Interesting Facts: __**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> They are the biggest Earthworm. They are hermaphrodites. The longest Giant Gippsland Earthworm on record is 13 feet long.
 * __<span style="color: #26e316; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[[image:thumbs_ecuador_wurm014_Giant_Earthworm-s580x773-14544-580.jpg width="293" height="288" align="left"]]ENDANGERED?!?!: __**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Giant Gippsland Earthworms are classified as "vulnerable", which means they may soon become endangered if they are not protected. Threats to the earthworm include a mixture of deadly pesticides that are used on the soil and which the worms absorb through their skin. Loss of habitat is another threat to this earthworm. People tend to dig the Giant Gippsland Earthworm up to collect, and when they do that they destroy their burrow systems. These earthworms also die when people are handling them, so now people are incouraged not to mess or handle them. Giant Gippsland Earthworms are now protected and you have to have a a permit to research them.

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