If earthworm was feared extinct, why kill it?

Monique Neugebauer, Henderson

Saturday, May 1, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

Regarding The New York Times’ story, “ ‘Giant’ earthworm measured in inches, not feet,” which was reprinted in Wednesday’s Las Vegas Sun:

Oh my! It is so interesting that the once “feared extinct” giant Palouse earthworm was rediscovered along with another smaller specimen, yet scientists proceeded to kill and dissect the larger one to determine if it was indeed the very one, and the same, earthworm they “feared extinct”?

What am I missing here? If something is feared extinct and you are lucky to actually find two specimens, why on earth would you reduce that number to one? Are there no other tests?

I guess they weren’t too fearful about the supposed extinction, even though none had been sighted since 1980 due to its habitat pretty much having disappeared.

I have no desire to have them in my backyard sliming me, but I’m curious all the same.