Railroad Worm
Phrixothrix hirtus
Dual-Color Circuitry
It possesses two distinct types of organs. A single red light on the head acts as a "headlight," while eleven pairs of yellow-green lights run down the sides of its body, mimicking the windows of a train.
Night-Vision Predator
Most insects cannot see red light. This gives the Railroad Worm a tactical advantage: it can shine its red headlight to see its prey in the dark without the prey ever realizing it is being illuminated.
The "Switch" Mechanism
When fully alarmed, the worm activates all its lights at once. This sudden transformation from a brown worm to a multicolored neon string is enough to startle almost any vertebrate predator.
Field notes
| Range | South America |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1 to 2 years |
| Size | 40 mm to 60 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 0.3 g to 0.5 g |
| Colour | Amber-Brown (Body) / Red & Yellow-Green |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Family | A member of the Phengodidae family |
In the book
The Railroad Worm is number 99 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
