Aridian sandworm

The Aridan sandworm was a very large animal lifeform native to deserts on the planet Aridia III.

Sandworms required an environmental temperature above 389 degrees C, an extremely hot temperature as lead melted at 327 degrees C.

The species was endangered in the Federation in the 23rd century. A carefully-controlled habitat for them was maintained in a desert on the Federation wildlife preserve planet Salvum.

History
In 2267, the crew of a pirate Grotus transport used sleeping gas on the staff of the preserve, then fled, successfully evading the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). Chief zoologist Axel Carruthers flew James T. Kirk, Spock, and Montgomery Scott in a survey plane to inspect the habitats. They flew above several Aridan sandworms, but the habitat appeared not to have been tampered with.