Giant Palouse earthworm
Overview
Earthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
belonging to the genus Driloleirus
Driloleirus
Driloleirus is an earthworm genus in the family Megascolecidae.This genus includes at least two species:* Driloleirus americanus – giant Palouse earthworm, Washington giant earthworm* Driloleirus macelfreshi – Oregon giant earthworm...
found in the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
region of Eastern Washington state as well as parts of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The worm was discovered in 1897 by Frank Smith near Pullman, Washington. It can burrow down 5 metres (16 feet).
Although it had been thought to be extinct in the 1980s, recent evidence has demonstrated that the species is not.
