Diplocardia meansi, the Means's giant earthworm, or Rich Mountain giant earthworm, is a species of earthworm endemic to the United States. It is the second longest earthworm in North America. It was discovered by D. Bruce Means on June 11, 1973, in Polk County, Arkansas.[1] and later described by Gates in 1977. It occurs only on Rich Mountain, part of the Ouachita Mountains.[2]
| Diplocardia meansi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Opisthopora |
| Suborder: | Lumbricina |
| Family: | Acanthodrilidae |
| Genus: | Diplocardia |
| Species: | D. meansi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diplocardia meansi Gates, 1977
| |
Description
editDiplocardia meansi only occurs on Rich Mountain, located in Oklahoma and Arkansas. D. meansi was found by Means while digging for salamanders on Rich Mountain. D. meansi can be over 18 inches, and is the second longest earthworm in North America.
Diplocardia meansi inhabits drier areas of the mountain, and is not found in mesic and saturated soils nears seeps or streams. It occurs mostly in poor developed talus soils. During rains in May, D. meansi can be seen plentifully on the surface, potentially to breed. Cocoons laid include only one or two immatures.[2]
Bioluminescence
editSimilar to D. longa, Diplocardia meansi exhibits bioluminescence.
If tweaked or shocked in the dark, D. meansi secretes a distasteful glowing coelomic fluid.[2][1]
References
edit- ^ a b Janie Jones and Wyatt Jones, Arkansas Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Globe Pequot, 2010) p. 129; A commentator adds, "Don't ask how they discovered the flavor."
- ^ a b c Robison, Henry W.; Allen, Robert T. (January 1, 1995). Only in Arkansas: A Study of the Endemic Plants and Animals of the State. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1-55728-326-9.
 | This annelid-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |