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Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus), Bellavista, Ecuador We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it&#039;s quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.<br /> <br /> This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as &quot;Otonga&quot;, yet I&#039;m unsure if this is a group name or a species name.<br /> <br /> I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I&#039;ve been able to find:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940" rel="nofollow">https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940</a><br /> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo" rel="nofollow">https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo</a><br /> <section class="video"><iframe width="448" height="282" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kQtXriMDRvw?hd=1&autoplay=0&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></section><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126851/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_closeup_bellavista_ecuador.html" title="Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - closeup, Bellavista, Ecuador"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/126851_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1763596810&Signature=iBGaX3ZvZspfDz%2FfAIXmpW8RShw%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - closeup, Bellavista, Ecuador We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it&#039;s quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.<br /> <br /> This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as &quot;Otonga&quot;, yet I&#039;m unsure if this is a group name or a species name.<br /> <br /> I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I&#039;ve been able to find:<br /> <br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940<br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtXriMDRvw<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126850/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_bellavista_ecuador.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126852/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_size_reference_bellavista_ecuador.html Bellavista Cloud Forest,Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Martiodrilus crassus,South America,Spring,World" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126852/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_size_reference_bellavista_ecuador.html" title="Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - size reference, Bellavista, Ecuador"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/126852_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1763596810&Signature=Ttn4nvG%2FXYHQjgIXjFFLyqMJIH0%3D" width="200" height="120" alt="Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - size reference, Bellavista, Ecuador We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it&#039;s quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.<br /> <br /> This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as &quot;Otonga&quot;, yet I&#039;m unsure if this is a group name or a species name.<br /> <br /> I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I&#039;ve been able to find:<br /> <br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940<br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtXriMDRvw<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126850/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_bellavista_ecuador.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126851/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_closeup_bellavista_ecuador.html Bellavista Cloud Forest,Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Martiodrilus crassus,South America,Spring,World" /></a></figure> Bellavista Cloud Forest,Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Martiodrilus crassus,South America,Spring,World Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus), Bellavista, Ecuador

We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it's quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.

This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as "Otonga", yet I'm unsure if this is a group name or a species name.

I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I've been able to find:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940
https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo


Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - closeup, Bellavista, Ecuador We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it's quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.<br /> <br /> This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as "Otonga", yet I'm unsure if this is a group name or a species name.<br /> <br /> I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I've been able to find:<br /> <br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940<br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtXriMDRvw<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126850/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_bellavista_ecuador.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126852/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_size_reference_bellavista_ecuador.html Bellavista Cloud Forest,Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Martiodrilus crassus,South America,Spring,World

Giant Earth Worm (Martiodrilus crassus) - size reference, Bellavista, Ecuador We were facing a lack of birds on a wide path around Bellavista, when Henriette spiced up things with an observation that put us in disbelief. Accustomed to earth worms being about 5-7 cm as commonly found in gardens, it's quite a shock to find one at about 1m length.<br /> <br /> This one measured between 80-100cm as it expands and contracts. Supposedly, they can grow up to 1.5m. They are described as sometimes coming out after heavy rain. Locals refer to these giant earth worms as "Otonga", yet I'm unsure if this is a group name or a species name.<br /> <br /> I have no idea how common they are, but for sure they are rarely photographed or shared online. Most platforms show zero reports, this is all I've been able to find:<br /> <br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanharper/20317902940<br /> https://www.flickr.com/photos/saburosan/40772623483/in/photolist-257WmsX-wXqyFo<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtXriMDRvw<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126850/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_bellavista_ecuador.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/126851/giant_earth_worm_martiodrilus_crassus_-_closeup_bellavista_ecuador.html Bellavista Cloud Forest,Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Martiodrilus crassus,South America,Spring,World

    comments (9)

  1. View Calbost Niel's profile
    Calbost Niel
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    Quite amazing Posted 3 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      I've heard Australia hosts some even larger ones :) Posted 3 years ago
  3. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
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    Incredible! Otonga is a place (Otonga Nature Reserve) in Ecuador, as far as I know. Not sure what it means or its significance otherwise. Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      That reserve is named after the worm:
      https://www.valcucine.com/magazine/en/2009/01/bioforests-operation-otonga/       Posted 3 years ago
      1. View Christine Young's profile
        Christine Young
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        I would love to know what it means. I can't find a translation, though. Posted 3 years ago
        1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
          Ferdy Christant
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          I think it just literally means "giant worm" or something similar. I read somewhere that indigenous farmers call it that, so it's likely not part of the Spanish language. Posted 3 years ago
          1. View Christine Young's profile
            Christine Young
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            But, I NEED to know the exact meaning and origin of the word. Posted 3 years ago
            1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
              Ferdy Christant
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              Keep searching then :) Posted 3 years ago
              1. View Christine Young's profile
                Christine Young
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                Maybe I will ;p Posted 3 years ago

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The Martiodrilus crassus

Martiodrilus crassus is a giant earthworm in the Martiodrilus genus.

Info 4 0
Similar species: Haplotaxida
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

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Uploaded Jan 1, 2022. Captured Nov 7, 2021 11:05 in X8M9+JM Tandayapa, Ecuador.
country flag of Ecuador Explore Ecuador 1,787 846 0
  • NIKON D810
  • f/9.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO64
  • 105mm