The giant Gippsland earthworm, a notable species residing near Melbourne, Australia, can grow up to 3 meters long and is recognized for its distinct gurgling sounds. Researchers, led by experts like Dr. Beverley Van Praagh, struggle to study these underground creatures. Their detection often relies on listening for their sounds or observing burrows. Unlike typical garden worms, this species lays amber-colored cocoons that contain a single large baby worm after about a year, underscoring its unique reproductive habits.
One of the world's largest worms might escape notice, if not for the loud gurgling noises that can be heard coming from underground as the species burrows and squelches through its moist clay.
Even an average sized individual would eclipse the UK's largest recorded specimen, a 40cm-long lob worm named Dave found in a Cheshire vegetable patch.
Worm researchers such as Van Praagh say it is challenging to study an animal that lives underground, even one so immense.
Egg cocoons were a beautiful amber colour, he said. And if you hold them up to the light, you can actually see there's one worm inside.
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