Giant Palouse earthworm

Driloleirus americanus (English: Giant Palouse earthworm ), occurring in North America is a representative of the Megascolecidae (so-called "giant earthworms " ) that belong to the Wenigborstern.

The worm species was discovered and described in 1897 in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, and can reach a length of up to one meter. It is colorless and can retreat into the soft and fertile soils of the Palouse prairie, a hilly grassy landscape in Washington State, at depths up to 5 m. The Palouse Prairie is a rapidly due to heavy agricultural use since the 19th century threatened ecosystem type.

Driloleirus americanus Similar to the 1937 discovered in Oregon kind Driloleirus macelfreshi has been observed very rarely, about his life little is known. The species was considered extinct; 2010, however, two living specimens were discovered.