From Running Wild:
Rockworm
Lumbricus saxi
Habitat: Mountains, hills, and urban areas
Range: Northern half of North America
Frequency: Uncommon
Identification: These 2-meter-long giant earthworms appear to
be an Awakened variant of a common nightcrawler (Lubricus
terrestris). They share the same segmentation as these ground
worms along with the “collar” located about a third of the
body length down from the head. Unlike mundane worms, the
rockworm’s body is encrusted with silica deposits, giving it a nearcomplete
exoskeleton. The rockworm’s “head” terminates in a
tripartite mouth. When opened, the teeth resemble the grinding
surfaces of a drill-bit used for well drilling.
Habits: Rockworms burrow through the earth at depths of up to
50 meters. Using their drill-like mouth structure and powerful
jaws, they can grind solid bedrock into dust. The ground-up rock is
mixed with their acidic saliva and digested before the indigestible
portions are defecated. The rockworm’s nutritional requirements
are unique and a bit of a mystery. The animal has a clear need for
a diet that is high in silicon, but other physiological processes also
exploit a variety of unusual minerals.
These animals are hermaphroditic but incapable of selffertilization.
In the course of their tunneling, they often form
larger caverns, over 25 meters in height in some instances, which serve
as dens and breeding grounds. As worms continue to enter and exit
these caverns, the bedrock surrounding them can become increasingly
unstable. In a number of cases, this instability has led to a sudden sinkhole
forming with severe consequences for surface structures.
In order to bring air into their tunnels, rockworms regularly
dig holes to the surface. In some instances, these air vents can enter
the foundation and walls of buildings or bridges. This can lead
to architectural instability, and some municipalities have placed
bounties on rockworms.
This one is MUCH bigger than 2m long! 2m has just emerged under the mule and there's more underground...despite the lack of facial features you get the idea that it is pissed (and I don't mean drunk!)
