Anisochaeta gigantea facts for kids

Meet the North Auckland worm, also known by its scientific name, Anisochaeta gigantea. This amazing creature is a type of giant annelid, which is a group of worms with segmented bodies. It belongs to the Megascolecidae family.

This special worm is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic to that country. It's quite rare to spot one!

Discovering the Giant North Auckland Worm

The North Auckland worm is the biggest worm in New Zealand. It can grow to be super long, up to 1.4 meters (about 4.5 feet)! That's taller than many kids! It can also be quite thick, about 11 millimeters (almost half an inch) across.

These giant worms dig really deep burrows in the ground. Their tunnels can be up to 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. They can reach an incredible depth of 3.5 meters (about 11.5 feet) underground! Imagine how much digging that takes.

Where Does This Giant Worm Live?

The first time scientists officially found and described this worm was on Little Barrier Island. This island is off the coast of New Zealand. The worm was found on a high plateau, about 200 meters (656 feet) above sea level. It lived in the soil of the forest.

Is the North Auckland Worm in Danger?

Scientists keep track of animals to see if they are at risk. The North Auckland worm is listed as "Data Deficient" by groups like the New Zealand Threat Classification System and the IUCN Red List.

"Data Deficient" means that scientists don't have enough information about the worm. They need more research to know if its population is shrinking or if it's doing okay. This makes it hard to know if it needs special protection.