The giant earthworm

worm on the planet, there are about 4,000 species. However, special attention attracted only one species - Megascolides australis. This is the largest soil invertebrates in the world. Record holder of this species can reach a length - 3-4 meters! At this length, the diameter of the body is 2-3 sm.

It is simply amazing! From a distance it could be mistaken for a long, but thin zmeyu.

These giants can be met only on the hills of Southwestern Gipslenda in Australia. They are long-lived, their life expectancy can be up to 10 years! If only they had not become tempting bait on the hook. They say they caught whales)

Spring and summer are the main periods for reproduction. These worms - hermaphrodites, which means that in adults has both male and female reproductive systems. But for all the fertilization needed steam. And each of them and then lays eggs in a special cocoon, which he himself had sozdaet.

For the full maturation and development, the eggs of the giant earthworm is required as much as a whole year! Young animals - an exact copy of the parent's only the size of a little sum - only some 20 cm. After 5 years, they reach their maximum size and can already razmnozhatsya.

They live in a 2-meter burrows, which they themselves had dug. Residents are picky. The main requirement for living conditions - high humidity of the soil. While driving through the tunnels they can reach high speeds. Resulting in a peculiar gurgling sound. And it all is that the worm burrows inside are covered with a special viscous secretion, which makes the walls more smooth. This in turn contributes to the speed of movement and the emergence of such zvuka.

Australian giant earthworms are protected by the state. In their honor, even organized the annual festival - "pocket" (so-called worm Aborigines) .

But that's not all the honors. In his honor in 1985 it was built Museum Attraction. It is a huge 100-meter building in the form of rain chervya.

See also: In nature there smiling spider. Man evolved from marine worm. Rare spider crab newly discovered 100 years later. Invasion of the spiders after floods in Australia. In the waters of New Zealand found the world's largest shrimp.

Source: ianimal.ru/topics/avstralijjskijj-gigantskijj-dozhdevojj-cherv