Ref ID : 6035
Beverley Van Praagh; The biology and conservation of the Giant Gippsland earthworm Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878. Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1363-1367, 1992
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Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878 is one of the world's largest earthworms and is restricted to a small area in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is listed by the IUCN as "vulnerable". Adult worms average ca 750x20 mm and weight upto 381 g. Three developmental (presumably age) classes have been found in the field based on the structure of the clitellum; young worms (mean 33 g), subadults (mean 69 g) and adults (mean 210 g). Adults form the dominant age class of the population at all times of the year, having densities up to four times those of immatures. Reproductively active adults were recorded mainy from September to December. Egg cocoons occur singly at an average depth of 220 mm and a density of 1.6 m-3. Incubation period is at least 12 months. Egg cocoons are 40-70x10-15 mm in size with an average weight of 9 g. Worm distribution is patchy. Systematic sampling in a 2x(1x1) km grid revealed worms in only 6% of the quadrats sampled. Over 80% of the occupied quadrats were within 40 m of the banks of streams or among soaks on south facing slopes. Prospects for conservation of the worm are discussed within the known framework of the species biology.