Giant Worm

Lore & Background

The giant Gippsland earthworm lives in the subsoil of blue, grey, or red clay soils along stream banks and some south- or west-facing hills of its remaining habitat in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. These worms live in deep burrow systems and require water in their environment to respire. They have a relatively long life expectancy for invertebrates and can take 5 years to reach maturity. The reproductive period mainly spans from September to December. They breed in the warmer months and produce egg capsules 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) in length, laid in their burrows. When these worms hatch in 12 months, they are around 20 cm (8 in) long. Unlike most earthworms, which deposit castings on the surface, they spend almost all their time in burrows about 52 cm (20 in) in depth and deposit their castings there, and can generally only be flushed out by heavy rain. They eat organic matter, as well as bacteria and fungi, which may have allowed them to better adapt to the change from a forest to pasture living area. They are usually very sluggish but can move rapidly through their burrows, causing an audible gurgling or sucking sound that allows them to be detected.

In Their Own Story

Gippsland earthworm colonies are small and isolated, and the species' low reproductive rate and slow maturation make those small populations vulnerable. Their natural habitats are grasslands, and while they can survive beneath pastures, cultivation, heavy cattle grazing, and effluent run-off are adversarial to the species. The Gippsland earthworm requires moist, loamy soil to thrive; dense tree planting negatively affects soil humidity, which in turn negatively affects the species' habitat. No successful breeding has yet been achieved in captivity. Until it closed in 2012 amid animal welfare concerns, Wildlife Wonderland Park near Bass, Victoria, was home to the Giant Earthworm Museum. Inside the worm-shaped museum, visitors could crawl through a magnified replica of a worm burrow and a simulated worm's stomach. Displays and educational material on the giant Gippsland earthworm and other natural history of Gippsland were also featured. Interest in the giant Gippsland earthworm has been exploited by the local tourist industry, with an annual Karmai Festival in Korumburra. In the Boonwurrung language, it is said to have been called karmai.

Reader's Guide

To observe giant Gippsland earthworms in the wild, visit their remaining habitat in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, specifically in blue, grey, or red clay soils along stream banks and some south- or west-facing hills. Listen for an audible gurgling or sucking sound from their burrows, which indicates their presence. They are usually very sluggish but can move rapidly underground. Heavy rain may flush them out of their burrows, which are about 52 cm (20 in) deep. For a safer encounter, visit the former Giant Earthworm Museum at Wildlife Wonderland Park near Bass, Victoria (closed in 2012), where you could crawl through a magnified replica of a worm burrow and a simulated worm's stomach. Alternatively, attend the annual Karmai Festival in Korumburra, which celebrates the worm, known as karmai in the Boonwurrung language. Remember that these worms are threatened: their colonies are small and isolated, with a low reproductive rate and slow maturation. No successful breeding has yet been achieved in captivity, so handle any sightings with care and respect for their vulnerable status.

Did You Know?

• The giant Gippsland earthworm can reach up to 3 m (10 ft) in length, though it is typically 1 m (3.3 ft) long.
• It takes 5 years for these worms to reach maturity, and their egg capsules take 12 months to hatch.
• They deposit their castings in burrows about 52 cm (20 in) deep, not on the surface like most earthworms.
• No successful breeding of the giant Gippsland earthworm has yet been achieved in captivity.
• In the Boonwurrung language, the worm is said to have been called karmai, and an annual Karmai Festival is held in Korumburra.