It was discovered by D. Bruce Means on June 11, 1973, in Polk County, Arkansas.

[2] Diplocardia meansi only occurs on Rich Mountain, located in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

D. meansi was found by Means while digging for salamanders on Rich Mountain.

Diplocardia meansi inhabits drier areas of the mountain, and is not found in mesic and saturated soils nears seeps or streams.

If tweaked or shocked in the dark, D. meansi secretes a distasteful glowing coelomic fluid.