Anisochaeta gigantea
| Anisochaeta gigantea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Opisthopora |
| Family: | Megascolecidae |
| Genus: | Anisochaeta |
| Species: | A. gigantea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anisochaeta gigantea (Benham, 1906)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Anisochaeta gigantea (formerly Spenceriella gigantea or Celeriella gigantea),[1][2][3] commonly called the North Auckland worm, is a rare giant annelid of the family Megascolecidae, endemic to New Zealand.
The North Auckland worm is New Zealand's largest, reaching 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long, and 11 mm (0.43 in) in diameter. Its burrows are up to 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter, and reach a depth of 3.5 m (11 ft).[4] It has been described as feeling "unshaven", likely due to the number of chaetae, about 60, on each segment.[5][6] Dorsally, the worm is purplish‑red anterior to the clitellum, with a distinct purple streak running along the dorsal midline; the remainder of the body is a paler reddish colour. [7] This colouration fades when preserved to white with purplish grey features.[8]
Anisochaeta gigantea was described in 1905 and placed in the genus Diporochaeta by William Benham, a Professor at the University of Otago. The description was based upon a single specimen sent to him by Mr. R. Shakespear, the caretaker on Hauturu[9]. The type locality is from a plateau 200 metres (660 ft) above sea level in forest subsoil on Little Barrier Island.[4] Under both the New Zealand Threat Classification System and IUCN Redlist it is classed a "Data Deficient".[10]
A. gigantea has been recorded throughout North Auckland, including offshore islands such as Little Barrier Island and the Hen and Chicken Islands, and extending as far north as Kaitaia. [11][12][13].
References
- ^ Blakemore, R.J. (2006). "Checklist of New Zealand earthworms updated from Lee (1959)" (PDF). Annelida Website.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Blakemore, R.J. (2012). "On Schmarda's lost earthworm and some newly found New Zealand species". Journal of Species Research 1(2): 105–132.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Blakemore, R.J. (2014). "Miscellaneous Earthworm types in British Museum of Natural History, London" (PDF). Opuscula Zoologica 45(2): 119–155.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Lee, K. E. (1959). The earthworm fauna of New Zealand. Wellington: NZ Department of Scientific & Industrial Research.
- ^ Lee, K. E. (1959). "A key for the identification of New Zealand earthworms*". Tuatara. 8 (1): 146.
- ^ "Underground giant glows in the dark but is rarely seen". Predator Free NZ Trust. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Lee, K. E. (1959). "A key for the identification of New Zealand earthworms*". Tuatara. 8 (1): 146.
- ^ Benham, William Blaxland (1905). "Art. XXVIII.—An account of some earthworms from Little Barrier Island". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 38: 251.
- ^ Benham, William Blaxland (1905). "Art. XXVIII.—An account of some earthworms from Little Barrier Island". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 38: 254.
- ^ Blakemore, R.J. (2017). "Anisochaeta gigantea". IUCN Redlist.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Lee, K. E. (1959). "A key for the identification of New Zealand earthworms*". Tuatara. 8 (1): 146.
- ^ "Spenceriella gigantea (Benham, 1906)". www.gbif.org.
- ^ "Anisochaeta novaezealandiae (Lee, 1952)". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
External links
- The North Auckland worm discussed in RNZ Critter of the Week, 14 Aug 2020
- Royal Society of New Zealand – Studies on the Earthworm Fauna of New Zealand. III