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Amynthas mekongianus

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Species of annelid worm

Amynthas mekongianus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Class: Clitellata
Order: Opisthopora
Family: Megascolecidae
Genus: Amynthas
Species: A. mekongianus
Binomial name
Amynthas mekongianus
(Cognetti, 1922)
Synonyms

Megascolex mekongianus

Amynthas mekongianus, the Mekong worm or Mekong giant earthworm, previously known as Megascolex mekongianus, is a species of earthworm in the family Megascolecidae. It is native to the vicinity of the River Mekong in southeastern Asia and may have more than 500 segments and grow to a length of 2.9 m (10 ft).

Description

The Mekong giant earthworm may grow to a length of up to 2.9 m (10 ft). Compared to their great length, these worms are relatively slender. The type specimen was one metre long and 8 mm (0.3 in) wide at the broadest point (segment 5). It had 370 segments and was a greyish colour, rather paler on the ventral surface. The prostomium was poorly preserved. The second segment had 46 setae (bristles) in an incomplete ring with a gap on the ventral surface. Segments 3 to 25 bore about 100 setae each, arranged in a complete ring. The male pores were on segment 17, but this specimen was immature and lacked a clitellum.

Distribution and habitat

The type specimen was recorded as being from "Ban Leum on Mekong River, Annam". This was mistakenly believed to refer to a village in Central Vietnam well away from the River Mekong, but it has been found that "Ban leum" means " forget the place" in the local dialect, and the type locality is thought to be in Thailand or Laos. The river forms a delta at that point and contains extensive mud and sand flats and embankments where the worms live. Pigs forage and fishermen dig worms for bait there.

Ecology

Unlike most other species of giant earthworm, which generally inhabit pastureland, the Mekong worm burrows into the muddy banks of the River Mekong in Laos. The worm forms complex networks of tunnels and brings large quantities of ingested soil to the surface in the form of worm castings. The worms may be collected from the mud, but are more easily collected from underwater at depths around 40 cm (16 in). Little is known of the worm's ecology.

References

  1. ^ Blakemore, Robert J.; Csuzdi, Csaba; Ito, M.T.; Kaneko, N.; Paoletti, M.G.; Spiridonov, S.E.; Uchida, T.; Van Praahg, B.D. (2007). "Megascolex (Promegascolex) mekongianus Cognetti, 1922 – its extent, ecology and allocation to Amynthas (Clitellata/Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae)". Opuscula Zoologica. 36. Budapest: 19–30.
  2. ^ Grime, J. Philip; Pierce, Simon (2012). The Evolutionary Strategies that Shape Ecosystems. John Wiley & Sons. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-118-22327-7.
  3. Blakemore, R.J. "Terrestrial earthworms: body size range". Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  4. Ritz, Karl (2011). The Architecture and Biology of Soils: Life in Inner Space. CABI. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-84593-533-7.
Taxon identifiers
Amynthas mekongianus
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