New Species of Giant Earthworms Found in South Australia

By Isabella Kelly

ABC Rural

Animals

Sunday, 19 July 2026, 8:00 am

Ashleigh Heinrich found a big worm that looked like a baby snake.

In short:

A scientist has been watching giant earthworms in South Australia for 30 years.

These big worms are probably a new species.

What's next?

To recognize a new species, scientists need to do research and write a paper.

Officially, there are no giant earthworms in South Australia.

Many people have seen these big worms, but they are hard to find.

A scientist named Kristen Messenger has been tracking these worms for 30 years.

Some of these worms are over a meter long and as thick as a garden hose.

As an ecologist, Kristen Messenger hears many stories that might not be true.

Kristen Messenger thinks there are many unknown earthworms in Australia.

She found some of these big worms and took pictures.

Normal earthworms are less than 15 centimeters long, but these big ones are much longer.

The biggest one found was about 2 meters long in the Mid North.

South Australia has a species of big earthworm called the Giant Mount Lofty Earthworm.

But Kristen Messenger's findings are from all over the state, especially in dry areas.

Many people reported seeing big worms in different parts of South Australia.

What is a species?

A new species of big earthworm was found in Broken Hill in 2021.

Some big worms in South Australia are probably a new species.

There are not many records of earthworms in dry areas.

If a worm is in the wrong habitat, it could be a new species.

Worms have been found in the Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, and Mid North.

The 2-meter worm is probably a new species.

Smaller worms might be the same as the Mount Lofty earthworm.

To know for sure, scientists need to examine the worms closely.

Recognizing a new species requires publishing a paper in a scientific journal.

There are over 700 known species of earthworms in Australia.

Giant earthworms are rarely seen, but there are many in Australia.

There are probably many more species that are not known.

We need to learn more about earthworms before they disappear.

Many species have been lost due to land clearing.

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The secret society of earthworms

How did such a big worm go undiscovered for so long?

South Australia's environment might be why these worms were not found.

Remil Lim found a big worm near the Flinders Ranges.

South Australia is a dry state, which might be why earthworms are not common.

Kristen Messenger thinks the worms' hidden nature is part of the reason.

Earthworms are hidden in the soil and do important work, but are not seen.

Giant earthworms only come to the surface at night and live in deep burrows.

The biggest worms found were in the Mid North.

Heavy rains might cause daytime sightings of earthworms.

If the soil is too wet, earthworms have to come to the surface or drown.

Kristen Messenger does not plan to study these worms in an academic way.

She is interested in the value of these creatures and loves them.

ABC Rural news daily

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