Researchers Hunt Mythic Giant Northwest Earthworm (look, Idaho, Washington)

[gy2020]

MOSCOW, Idaho — The giant Palouse earthworm has taken on mythic qualities in this vast agricultural region that stretches from eastern Washington into the Idaho panhandle — its very name evoking the fictional sandworms from "Dune" or those vicious creatures from the movie "Tremors."

Researchers Hunt Mythic Giant Northwest Earthworm - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

[NightBazaar]

A 6-inch long worm in a tube? Sounds like a nightcrawler. Canadian nightcrawlers can get up to 14-inches in length.

Nightcrawlers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[gy2020]

They say they get up to 3 feet in length. Maybe?

[NightBazaar]

Originally Posted by gy2020

They say they get up to 3 feet in length. Maybe?

Kinda like they say ETs are being secretly held at Area 51?

It's possible there might be some worms that can reach close to 3-ft in length, but it's probably a rare abnormality rather than a thriving species. Reports of the worms date back to the 1890s, but supposedly specimens of the species have been found and collected more recently. I'd like to see those specimens. They also say the worms can spit at you.

There are a few photos showing what's claimed to be these giant worms, but who knows what you're looking at. Some photos could be showing anything, including an animal intestine. Some photos could be fake and are only showing a representation of the worms. Has there ever been any professional studies done on the "specimens"? The group(s) out hunting for them seem to be amateurs out digging holes in the ground.

[bluepacific]

Originally Posted by gy2020

MOSCOW, Idaho — The giant Palouse earthworm has taken on mythic qualities in this vast agricultural region that stretches from eastern Washington into the Idaho panhandle — its very name evoking the fictional sandworms from "Dune" or those vicious creatures from the movie "Tremors."

Researchers Hunt Mythic Giant Northwest Earthworm - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

There are indeed large 3 foot earthworms in other areas of the planet. I remember years ago as a kid the articles and photos from National Geographic about Vietnam and the Philippines where kids were shown holding three foot long or more specimens to the photographer. Many large earthworms have been found in Australia as well. I believe there are close to 2700 known species of earthworms around the globe.

Here's an example of of some earth worms that make the average American Nightcrawler look like a parasitic pinworm.
I believe these in the link below are from Equador.

Humongous Earthworms | forgetomori

Japan also has a giant earthworm. Here's a giant leech eating or sucking the blood of a giant earthworm.


YouTube - Japan Mountain Leech vs. Giant Earthworm