Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5541 No. 4: 28 Nov. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-11-28
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5541.4.8
Page range: 563-581
Abstract views: 60
PDF downloaded: 3

On three new species of the earthworm genus Drawida Michaelsen, 1900 (Clitellata: Moniligastridae) from south-western India

Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development; Mahatma Gandhi University; Priyadarsini Hills; Kottayam— 686560; Kerala; India
Department of Zoology; Christ College (Autonomous); Affiliated with University of Calicut; Irinjalakuda; Thrissur—680 125; Kerala; India
Department of Zoology; Christ College (Autonomous); Affiliated with University of Calicut; Irinjalakuda; Thrissur—680 125; Kerala; India
Department of Zoology; C.M.S. College (Autonomous); Affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University; Kottayam—686 001; Kerala; India
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development; Mahatma Gandhi University; Priyadarsini Hills; Kottayam— 686560; Kerala; India
Annelida Kerala Moniligastrida Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Peninsular India taxonomy Western Ghats

Abstract

Three new earthworm species of the genus Drawida Michaelsen, 1900, namely D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov. and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov., are described from materials collected from the Kerala state of south-western India. D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., belongs to D. travancorensis Michaelsen, 1910 species group, characterized by spermathecal pores at C setal line, male pores at mid bc setal lines, glandular prostate, spermathecal atrium present, dorsal pores, and genital markings absent. Whereas D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov., and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov. belong to the D. robusta robusta (Bourne, 1886) group, characterized by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria. D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov. were collected from the midlands of Ernakulam district, and D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov., was collected from the higher altitude evergreen forest of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve of Palakkad district. Here we provide a detailed description of the external and internal characteristics of the new species, along with illustrations of the key characters. With the new findings, a total of 52 Drawida species are known from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

 

References

  1. Ahmed, S., Emiliyamma, K.G., Marimuthu, N. & Julka, J.M. (2022) A new species of the genus Tonoscolex Gates, 1933 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from India. Zootaxa, 5124 (3), 375–382. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5124.3.6
  2. Ahmed, S., Julka, J.M., Banerjee, D. & Marimuthu, N. (2023a) A new species of the genus Hoplochaetella Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Octochaetidae) from the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone, India. Zootaxa, 5346 (2), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5346.2.5
  3. Ahmed, S., Julka, J.M., Banerjee, D. & Marimuthu, N. (2023b) A new species of the genus Eutyphoeus Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from the North-Eastern Biogeographic Zone, India. Zootaxa, 5380 (2), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5380.2.4
  4. Aiyer, K.S.P. (1929) An account of the Oligochaeta of Travancore. Records of the Indian Museum, 31 (1), 13–76. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v31/i1/1929/162534
  5. Anuja, R., Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2020) First record of exotic earthworm Eukerria kuekenthali (Michaelsen, 1908) (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from Kerala, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 117, 165–167. https://doi.org/10.17087/jbnhs/2020/v117/131225
  6. Anuja, R., Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2023) Diversity of earthworms in different land use systems of Kottayam District, Kerala, India. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 93 (1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-022-01397-5
  7. Beddard, F.E. (1886) Notes on some earthworms from Ceylon and the Philippine Islands, including a description of two new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 5, 17, 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938609460120
  8. Blakemore, R.J. & Kupriyanova, E.K. (2010) Unravelling some Kinki worms (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Megadrili: Moniligastridae) Part I. Opuscula Zoologica Budapest, 40 (1), 3–18.
  9. Blakemore, R.J., Kupriyanova, E.K. & Grygier, M.J. (2010) Neotypification of Drawida hattamimizu Hatai, 1930 (Annelida, Oligochaeta, Megadrili, Moniligastridae) as a model linking mtDNA (COI) sequences to an earthworm type, with a response to the ‘Can of Worms’ theory of cryptic species. ZooKeys, 41, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.41.374
  10. Blakemore, R.J., Lee, S. & Seo, H-Y. (2014) Reports of Drawida (Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from East Asia. Journal of Species Research, 3 (2), 127–166. https://doi.org/10.12651/JSR.2014.3.2.127
  11. Bourne, A.G. (1886) On Indian earthworms - part I. preliminary notice of earthworms from the Nilgiris and Shevaroys. Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London, 1886, 662–672.
  12. Bourne, A.G. (1894) On Moniligaster grandis, A.G.B., from the Nilgiris, S. India; together with descriptions of other species of the genus Moniligaster. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 36, 307–384. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.s2-36.143.307
  13. Brinkhurst, R.O. & Jamieson, B.G.M. (1971) Aquatic Oligochaeta of the World. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 860 pp.
  14. Claus, C. (1880) Grundzüge der Zoologie, Vol. 1. 4th Edition. N. G. Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Marburg, 821 pp.
  15. Gates, G.E. (1945) On some Indian earthworms II. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Bengal, 11, 54–91.
  16. Gates, G.E. (1972) Burmese earthworms, an introduction to the systematic and biology of the megadrile oligochaetes with special reference to Southeast Asia. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 62 (7), 1–326. https://doi.org/10.2307/1006214
  17. George, J., Deepthi, M.P., Saminathan, K. & Kathireswari (2017) Biodiversity and ecological category of earthworms in Periya of Wayanad forest division, Kerala. Conference Proceedings on “Life Science: Research, Practices and application for sustainable development. 7–8 September 2017. Macmillan publishers, New York, New York.
  18. Iype, V.C., Nybe, E.V. & Pillai, P.V. (1991) Status report of high range zone. National agricultural research project, Kerala Agriculture University, Thrissur, Kerala, 148 pp.
  19. James, S.W. & Davidson, S.K. (2012) Molecular phylogeny of earthworms (Annelida: Crassiclitellata) based on 28S, 18S and 16S gene sequences. Invertebrate Systematics, 26 (2), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS11012
  20. Jamieson, B.G.M. (1977) On the phylogeny of the Moniligastridae, with description of new species of Moniligaster (Oligochaeta, Annelida). Evolutionary Theory, 2, 95–114.
  21. Jamieson, B.G.M. (1988) On the phylogeny and higher classification of the Oligochaeta. Cladistics, 4 (4), 367–401. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-0031.1988.tb00520.x
  22. Julka, J.M. & Chandra, M. (1986) On a small collection of earthworms and leeches (Annelida) from the Silent Valley, Kerala, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 84 (1–4), 165–171. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v84/i1-4/1986/161091
  23. Julka, J.M. & Paliwal, R. (2005) Distribution of earthworms in different agro-climatic region of India. In: Ramakrishnan, P.S., Saxena, K.G., Swift, M.J., Rao, K.S. & Maikhuri, R.K. (Eds.), Soil Biodiversity, Ecological Processes and Landscape. Oxford and ABH Publications Co. Pvt., New Delhi, pp. 3–13.
  24. Julka, J.M., Blanchart, E. & Chapuis-Lardy, L. (2004) New genera and new species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae) from Western Ghats, South India. Zootaxa, 486, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.486.1.1
  25. Julka, J.M., Giri, S., Panigrahi, P.K. & Senapati, B.K. (1997) Parryodrilus lavellei gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Octochaetidae, Oligochaeta) from Western Ghats, South India. European Journal of Soil Biology, 33 (3), 141–144.
  26. Lone, A.R., Thakur, S.S., Tiwari, P., James, S.W. & Yadav, S. (2022) Phylogenetic relationships in earthworm Megascolex species (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) with addition of two new species. Diversity, 14, 1006. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14111006
  27. Lone, A.R., Tiwari, N., Thakur, S.S., Pearlson, O., Pavlíček, T. & Yadav, S. (2020) Exploration of four new Kanchuria sp. of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from the North Eastern region of India using DNA bar-coding approach. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 13 (2), 268–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2020.02.004
  28. Michaelsen, W. (1900) Das Tierreich 10: Vermes, Oligochaeta. Friedländer & Sohn, Berlin, 575 pp. [in German] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11605
  29. Michaelsen, W. (1910) Die Oligochätenfauna der vorderindisch-ceylonischen region. Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Naturwissenschaften, herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein in Hamburg, 19 (5), 1–108. [in German]
  30. Michaelsen, W. (1919) Über die Beziehungen der Hirudineen zu den Oligochäten. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 36, 131–153. [in German]
  31. Naik, A., Narayanan, S.P., Palita, S.K., Thomas, A.P. & Paliwal R. (2024) Two new species of the genus Megascolex Templeton, 1844 (Clitellata, Megascolecidae) from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha state, India. Zootaxa, 5424 (5), 569–580. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5424.5.5
  32. Nair, S.S.C. (2011) The changing landscape of Kerala. In: Sashikumar, C., Praveen, J., Palot, M.J. & Nameer, P.O. (Ed.), Birds of Kerala Status and Distribution. DC Books, Kottayam, pp. 30–53.
  33. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Christopher, G., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2016a) Checklist of the earthworms (Oligochaeta) of Kerala, a constituent of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India. Zootaxa, 4193 (1), 117–137. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4193.1.5
  34. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Kuriakose, D., Christopher, G., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2016b) Are exotics Amynthas alexandri (Beddard, 1900) and Metaphire peguana (Rosa, 1890) (Clitellata: Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) a threat to native earthworms in Kerala, India? Journal of Threatened Taxa, 8 (2), 8938–8942. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2872.8.6.8938-8942
  35. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Christopher, G. & Julka, J.M. (2017) New species and new records of earthworm of the genus Drawida from Kerala part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India (Oligochaeta, Moniligastridae). ZooKeys, 691, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.691.13174
  36. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Christopher, G., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2019a) First record of some earthworm species (Oligochaeta: Megadrile) from Kerala part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. National Academy Science Letters, 42 (6), 509–512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-019-00797-y
  37. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Anuja, R., Christopher, G., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2019b) First record of the exotic Metaphire bahli (Gates, 1945) (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from India. Opuscula Zoologica Budapest, 50 (1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.18348/opzool.2019.1.99
  38. Narayanan, S.P., Paliwal, R., Kumari, S., Ahmed, S., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2020) Annelida: Oligochaeta. In: Director (Ed.), Faunal Diversity of Biogeographic Zones of India: Western Ghats. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 87–102.
  39. Narayanan, S.P., Sathrumithra, S., Anuja, R., Christopher, G., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2021) Three new species and four new species records of earthworms of the genus Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Moniligastridae) from Kerala region of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Zootaxa, 4949 (2), 381–397. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4949.2.11
  40. Narayanan, S.P., Anuja, R., Thomas, A.P. & Paliwal, R. (2022) A new species of Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 (Annelida, Moniligastridae) from India, with status revision of M. deshayesi minor Michaelsen, 1913. Opuscula Zoologica Budapest, 53 (1), 31–50. https://doi.org/10.18348/opzool.2022.1.31
  41. Narayanan, S.P., Paliwal, R., Kurien, V.T., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2023a) Earthworms (Clitellata: Moniligastrida, Crassiclitellata) of India: Distribution and Status. Department of Printing and Publishing - Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, 378 pp.
  42. Narayanan, S.P., Kurien, V.T., Anuja, R., Hasyagar, V., Thomas, A.P., Paliwal, R. & Julka, J.M. (2023b) Earthworm (Clitellata, Megadrili) fauna of Kuttanad wetland, southern part of Vembanad-Kol Ramsar site, India. Opuscula Zoologica Budapest, 54, 3–21. https://doi.org/10.18348/opzool-2023-1.3
  43. Narayanan, S.P., Paliwal, R., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2024a) Catalogue of the moniligastrid earthworms (Clitellata, Moniligastrida, Moniligastridae) of the world. Zootaxa, 5416 (1), 1–66. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5416.1.1
  44. Narayanan, S.P., Paliwal, R., Thomas, B., Thomas, A.P. & Julka, J.M. (2024b) Three new additions to the earthworm (Clitellata: Megadrili) fauna of Kerala state from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, south-western India. Opuscula Zoologica Budapest, 55, 47–57. https://doi.org/10.18348/opzool.2024.2.47
  45. Rao, C.R.N. (1921) On the anatomy of some new species of Drawida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 9, 8 (47), 496–536. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222932108632613
  46. Rodingpuia, C., Hmar, L., Julka, J., Chawngthu, Z., Mathipi, V., Lalfelpuii, R., Kumar, N.S., Gurusubramaniun, G., Lalchhandama, K., Vanlalrovi, & Chhakchhuak, L. (2024) A new species of Eutyphoeus earthworm (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from Mizoram, North-East India. Zootaxa, 5424 (2), 214–224. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5424.2.5
  47. Sasidharan, N. (2002) Floristic studies in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. KFRI Research Report No. 246. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, 408 pp.
  48. Shekhovtsov, S.V., Shipova, A.A., Bulakhova, N.A. & Berman, D.I. (2022) Differentiation within the Drawida ghilarovi complex (Moniligastridae: Annelida) revealed by multigene transcriptomic dataset analysis. European Journal of Soil Biology, 111, 103411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2022.103411
  49. Stephenson, J. (1923) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma – Oligochaeta. Taylor and Francis, London, 518 pp.
  50. Stephenson, J. (1925) On some Oligochaeta mainly from Assam, South India, and the Andaman Islands. Records of the Indian Museum, 27 (2), 43–73. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v27/i2/1925/163458
  51. Tiwari, N., Lone, A.R., Thakur, S.S., James, S.W. & Yadav, S. (2021) Three uncharted endemic earthworm species of the genus Eutyphoeus (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 5005 (1), 41–61. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5005.1.3