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Impurest's Guide to Animals - Issue #87 Terriswalkeris terrerginae

Well take it from me, never trust those people who claim to have turned off the electric fence, but then forget least you suffer the way I did. Last week the adorable Epaulette Shark clambered out of the tide pool and wandered across an Australian beach. This week’s issue is also Australian, and unusually isn’t a terrible killer creature. Hope you guys enjoy. ___________________________________________________________________

Issue #87 – Terriswalkeris terraerginae

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Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Annelida

Class – Citellata

Order – Haplotaxida

Family – Megascolecidae

GenusTerriswalkeris

Speciesterraerginae

Related Species – Terriswalkeris terraerginae is one of a number of giant earthworms that live only in Australia and New Zealand (1)

Range – Terriswalkeris terraerginae has currently only been seen in the state of Queensland

Ballard of the Big Blue Worm

Terriswalkeris terraerginae is a large blue earthworm which reaches an average length of 60 – 90cm long, although the largest specimen was over 2m in length. The species is rarely seen, only appearing after heavy rains or during road and rail construction (2). Terriswalkeris is Prussian Blue in colouration and moves around its underground tunnels via muscular contractions in the search for mates, food and moisture.

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Like all other earthworms Terriswalkeris terraerginae feeds on detritus, before pushing out waste pellets after they have been digested. The worm also produces luminous blue mucus, which although highly visible, has no know function as of yet. The worm is likely preyed on by a number of species, when it comes to the surface, such as toads and skinks.

While the feeding behaviour of Terriswalkeris terraerginae has been observed, the worm’s reproductive behaviour is unknown. Presumably the worm is a hermaphrodite like all other earthworms, and reproduces in a similar manner, with each both individuals in a pair fertilising the other with a packet of sperm.

Ecology 101 – Guide to Environmental Mechanics - #10 An Introduction to Earthworms

If you have ever been outside after a damp night or a passing shower, chances are you have seen an earthworm, most probably the lob-worm (Lumbricus terrestrius) squirming over the grass and pavements. Throughout time man has been both fascinated and disgusted by these underground creatures, but none more than acclaimed British naturalist Charles Darwin. After his life changing trip to the Galapagos, Darwin performed multiple experiments on earthworms; ranging from their reactions to sounds, their food tastes and even how they dragged leaves down into their burrows. He even published a book on the subject called The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, with Observations of their Habits which sold 6000 copies in the first year, far more than his more famous book, On the Origin of Species (3).

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And as fascinating as the behaviour of worms is, they are incredibly vital to the health of the environment, with their burrowing aerating the soil and providing oxygen to plant roots. In addition to oxygenating the soil, worms also recycle nutrients from the rotting leaves they feed on. And while this is beneficial in their native environments, in areas where they are introduced earthworms can cause chaos to the habitats they find themselves in. After being introduced into the United States, the lob-worm, as well as several other European species, have caused decline of temperate forest, especially those ones that rely on thick layers of leaf litter on the forest floor. Since the worm’s actions draw nutrients away from the forest floor their actions have caused nutrient leaching, and have even resulted in local extinctions of some plant species (4).

Meanwhile in their native Europe, the population of lob-worms is decreasing due to the introduction of an invasive species, the New Zealand Flatworm (Arthurdedendyus triangulatus) a carnivorous species that feeds almost exclusively on earthworms. With no native predators, thanks due to a foul tasting body, the New Zealand Flatworm has caused major declines in earthworm population across the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Faroe Islands. Native earthworms have very few defensives against the flatworm, which evolved to eat larger species that are far larger than the European species. That said, even the New Zealand Flatworm is unable to take down the largest of earthworm species, the endangered Giant Gippsland Earthworm (Megascolides australis), a worm that has an average length of a meter (with the largest individual being over three meters in length), that lives in the Australian state of Victoria. These worms are so large that they can be heard moving almost two feet underground as they tunnel through the earth in search of water.

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References

1. www.arkive.org

2. http://animal-planet.wapgroups.com/photos/?page=detail&fid=347101

3. http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Science-Stories/Earthworms/Charles-Darwin-and-earthworms

4. Bohlen, Patrick J., Derek M. Pelletier, Peter M. Groffman, Timothy J. Fahey, and Melany C. Fisk. 2004. Influence of earthworm invasion on redistribution and retention of soil carbon and nitrogen in northern temperate forests. Ecosystems 7: 13–27

Picture References

1. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/02/68/38/026838caaaba3d67e300c5cc14bce0a6.jpg

2. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpc3jyX32Ck/U4pU_5cUnaI/AAAAAAAAEYg/kKIvxPNXkHo/s1600/Queensland+Blue+Earthworm-4259.jpg

3. http://doubtfulnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/earthworm.jpg

4. http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/08/08801B15-FFF2-489E-BEF2-AF41AA0B4170/Presentation.Large/Giant-Gippsland-earthworm.jpg

Ugh well that was one squelchy blue worm indeed. Next week’s issue is a clever and callous island dweller with a taste for blood, but until then remember to critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

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