These giant earthworms average 1 metre (3.3 ft) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in diameter and can reach 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length however, their body is able to expand and contract making them appear much larger. He used to sell fishermen wanting to catch barbel or eel in the Gamtoos River.The giant Gippsland earthworm, Megascolides australis, is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species. The late Jan Pampoen of Steytlerville would sometimes grab a crowbar, climb on a bicycle and go to the town’s desert-like golf course after rains to look for earthworm mounds and casts.Ībout half a metre underground, he’d find two, three or four of these big earthworms, all wound together. Giant earthworms are preyed upon by giant golden moles and also the odd person seeking fishing bait. Karoo giant earthworms are usually found half a metre underground. Microchaetus skeadi shows a preference for the Karoo and Eastern Cape, and although seldom seen, is listed as of the most interesting inhabitants of the Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock. Or even to what extent they have added to the still-impressive fertility of the Karoo soils. No one yet seems too concerned about whether our slimy Karoo Big Boys are also vanishing. And they’ve put them under protection, because the worms were thought to be vanishing fast because of pesticide use. South Africa has the largest earthworm ever found, according to the international Worm Digest digital archives.Ī giant worm measuring nearly seven metres (22 feet) was found beside a road near King William’s Town back in 1967.Īustralians, who have the much smaller Giant Gippsland Earthworm (only one metre long, on average), devote a whole worm-shaped museum to them. Startled motorists spot them more often than scientists. This is a time when giant two-metre earthworms rear up out of their burrows and find a road to cross. A Karoo thunderstorm is a wondrous, scary thing. Danie Craven of Noorspoort Guestfarm near Steytlerville, with giant earthworms.
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