What are Giant Amphibians?

Giant earthworms are a large species of caecilian in the forests of South America. They are called "Minhocao", which means giant earthworms. Relevant research shows that this kind of creatures existed in the age of dinosaurs ^[1] . Although the name is "giant earthworm", it is actually far from the relatives of earthworms. It belongs to amphibians and vertebrates.

Giant earthworms were found on the Sumaco volcano near Ecuador,

Giant earthworms have been reported in most of these organisms

US researchers search for giant earthworms up to one meter in length

So far, only a handful of lucky people have witnessed the true appearance of Lushan, a giant earthworm

According to foreign media reports, in the vast agricultural area extending from the eastern part of Washington to the pot-shaped protruding area of Idaho, the famous giant Palau earthworms live. This giant earthworm was once the inspiration for the sand bugs in the science-fiction novel Dune and the evil creatures in the science-fiction movie Alien Monster. Because it is rarely found, Palau's giant earthworm has been wrapped in layers of mystery. ^[5]
It is said to be close to 1 meter in length <br /> It is said that Palau's giant earthworm lives in a cave 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep, and when touched, it can emit a smell similar to a lily, and at the same time it will Predator "spit saliva".

So far, only a few lucky people have ever witnessed the true appearance of Lushan, a giant earthworm.
American scientists hope that this situation will change in the summer of 2009. By searching the Palaus area, researchers are looking forward to discovering more Palaus giant earthworms. In addition, environmentalists also hope that the Obama administration can list and protect the Palau's giant earthworm as an endangered species, although research on the existence of this giant earthworm has been poor.
Jodi Johnson-Maynard, the University of Idaho professor of Palouse's giant earthworm search team, said such giant earthworms may be difficult to capture, but they do exist, and there is nothing to this. doubt. In order to prove the existence of Palau's giant earthworm, the female professor took out her iron proof-a glass tube containing the remains of a milky fat earthworm. It is reported that this specimen was discovered by a graduate student under Johnson-Maynard in 2005, and it is also the only confirmed Palouse giant earthworm specimen at present.
The giant earthworm in the glass tube is about 6 inches (15.24 cm) long. According to eyewitness descriptions in the early 1890s, the Palau's giant earthworm could reach 3 feet (about 0.91 meters) in length. In comparison to these same species, Johnson Maynard's specimen can only be a dwarf. It is reported that well-documented specimens of Palau's giant earthworms-known locally as GPE-have only appeared in 1978, 1988, 1990 and 2005.
The rolling Palaus, located near the Idaho-Washington junction south of Spokane, is a two million acre (8094 square kilometers) wheat growing area. Farmers cultivating in the fertile soil of Palaus rarely meet "narrow paths" with this giant earthworm.
Three-pronged search for giant earthworms <br /> Gary Budd, who manages the barn in Uniontown, said that none of the farmers he knows have ever seen such giant earthworms. He likens this big man in the earthworm kingdom to Elvis the Elvis. Bud said jokingly, "The chance to see" Elvis "in person is unique."
This summer, Johnson Maynard and his Palouse giant earthworm search team have been working on a university farm for research. They tried to find a living giant earthworm in three different ways. The first method is to simply dig a hole and then filter the soil with a strainer to find earthworms for research. The second method is to use a traditional "chemical warfare", which involves pouring a liquid solution of vinegar and mustard onto the ground. The earthworms are "forced" out of the ground by stimulating them; the third way is a new search method that uses current to launch "attacks" to drive earthworms out of the ground.
Cornell student Joanna Blaszczak said: "The electric shocker is very cool." Currently, Balaszak is working with Chengdu graduate student ShanXu (Transliteration) and scientist Carl Karl Umiker looks for giant earthworms together.
The maximum voltage of the stunner can reach 480 volts, which poses a certain danger to the contact and may even burn the specimen. On a recent day, Umick inserted eight 3-foot-long metal poles into the ground to form a small circle, and then connected to the battery through a wire. After turning on the switch, the only sound he heard was a cooling fan buzz that lasted a few minutes. "I felt like a piece of waste when we saw nothing," Umick said. Finally, a small rust-colored earthworm pierced the ground in their expectations. Although it was not GPE, the search team still It is captured for research.
Always labeled "Extinct" This giant earthworm search program is reminiscent of the experience of hunting hard-to-catch ivory-billed woodpeckers in Louisiana, Florida, and eastern Arkansas wetlands. This woodpecker is huge, with black and white coats of hair, and it has been labeled extinct before a witness report surfaced five years ago. The sighting aroused great interest from American experts, and the government immediately invested funds in a comprehensive search operation to confirm the existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker. As biologists and volunteers have not found relevant evidence, the government's investment in search has gradually decreased.
According to an article published by Frank Smith in the American Naturalist in 1897, GPE was very common in the Palaus in the 1890s. Smith's research is based on RW from Washington State University near Pullman. Four specimens sent to him by RWDoane.
Large-scale agricultural development soon wiped out almost all areas of the Palau Prairie, like an endless ocean of steep silt mounds, and brought the survival of the Prous giant earthworm. Fatal blow. In 2005, Idaho graduate Yaniria Sanchez-de Leon found a giant earthworm when she collected a soil sample with a shovel, lying on Johnson-Mena German glass tube. GPE has now been classified as an extinct species.
Immediately after news of the discovery of giant earthworms, environmental protection groups immediately requested the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list and protect GPE as an endangered species. However, when submitting their application, they also pointed out that due to the lack of witness records, there is little evidence about the existence of GPE. The authority said that they were unable to meet the request of environmental organizations due to the lack of sufficient scientific evidence.
A large number of tourists want to take photos with the specimens. <br /> Recently, environmentalists have submitted applications for the second time and said that they have obtained more information. In addition, they also hope that the Obama administration will be more "friendly" than the Bush administration. If all goes well, GPE will be the only member of the earthworm family to be protected as an endangered species. Doug Zimmer of the Seattle Fish and Wildlife Service said the agency would not comment on the request. "Regardless of the species involved, getting new information is always a joy," he said.
Local farmers have been wary of searches by Johnson Maynard and others. "The concern for farmers is whether listing as an endangered species means less agricultural production," said Dan Wood of the Washington State Farm Administration. "I don't know if people would be able to find a giant earthworm somewhere. Stop all agricultural farming activities. "
The vast majority of earthworms found in the northwestern United States are native to Europe. They are hidden in plants or soil and transported to this new world. The giant Palaus earthworm is one of the very few native earthworms, and it has a high reputation and popularity among the American public. As it was difficult to find live GPE, tourists took out cameras to take pictures of the "dead" as a memorial. Johnson-Menason said that many tourists called her and said that she would like to take a photo with GPE specimens in her office. "A lot of people are curious about it," she said. (Xiaowen) ^[5]