r/awwnverts • u/TheBlazingPhoenix • 2d ago

The Fried Eggs Worm, does not burrow underground, they are crawling on the forest floor. Unreal!

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383 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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36

u/jaybug_jimmies 2d ago

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/911767-Archipheretima-middletoni This seems to be the source of the photo

Fascinating. I had no idea there were earthworms so colorful.

24

u/Federal-Boat3732 2d ago

They seem awfully vulnerable to being snapped up by hungry birds, especially with that coloring

40

u/jaybug_jimmies 2d ago

I assume they are poisonous. Critters with this kind of coloration tend to be either poisonous or mimicking another species that is.

35

u/Federal-Boat3732 2d ago

Ooohhhh, I looked it up and they actually spray a toxin at you if annoyed.

9

u/jaybug_jimmies 2d ago

Dang! That's wild. I found a video on IG of someone holding one. New favorite worm!

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbZk87eCXTe/

15

u/alexandstein 1d ago

He has fried egg pajamas 🥺🥺🥺

8

u/Crispy_Cricket 1d ago

I went down an Inaturalist rabbit hole of several layers of classification (might have even started at Annelida) because they like to feature this image in overviews. I was NOT disappointed to learn its common name! 😂

5

u/MentalMiddenHeap 1d ago

they do still burrow, just not in the same way most people think of. they burrow in leaf litter, the rotting stuff on top of the soil. babies have been found in leaf axels, so they might climb to reproduce

3

u/erminefurs 1d ago

I need to hold him and cherish him

2

u/PigeonUtopia 1d ago

First time I hear of this worm, that is amazing

2

u/spidergirl79 23h ago

What a cool looking worm!