Spenceriella gigantea

Spenceriella gigantea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Haplotaxida
Suborder: Lumbricina
Family: Megascolecidae
Genus: Spenceriella
Species: S. gigantea
Binomial name
Spenceriella gigantea
(Benham, 1906)
Synonyms

Diporochaeta gigantea

Spenceriella gigantea, or 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 long, and 11 mm in diameter. Its burrows are up to 20 mm in diameter, and reach a depth of 3.5 m.[1]

The type locality is on Little Barrier Island on a plateau 200 metres above sea level in forest subsoil.[1] Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System it is classed a "Data Deficient".

References

  1. 1 2 Lee, K. E. (1959). The earthworm fauna of New Zealand. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
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