Drawida Incomparabilis

Drawida Incomparabilis Latest News

Researchers have announced the discovery of a new earthworm species, Drawida incomparabilis. 

About Drawida Incomparabilis

• It is a new earthworm species.
• It was found deep within the evergreen and deciduous forests of the Western Ghats mountain chain across the southern states of Keralam and Tamil Nadu.
• Features: It is a relatively large worm, measuring between 217 and 392 millimetres in length, and possesses distinctive glandular prostates coupled with an unusually posterior location for its gizzards.
• The species belongs to the family Moniligastridae.
  • Moniligastridae is a diverse group of terrestrial megadrile earthworms that currently contains 194 valid species distributed across five genera.
  • Among them, the genus Drawida is the most species-rich and a prominent component of Asian subterranean ecosystems.

What are Earthworms?

• Earthworms are harmless, often beneficial residents of the soil.
• They occur in virtually all soils of the world in which the moisture and organic content are sufficient to sustain them.
• Features
  • The earthworm body is divided into ringlike segments. Some internal organs, including the excretory organs, are duplicated in each segment.
  • They don’t have lungs; they breathe through their skin. 
  • Earthworms lack eyes and instead use specialized receptor cells in their skin to detect light, touch, vibrations, and chemicals
  • Earthworms have five “hearts” that pump blood through their bodies.
  • Their food consists of decaying plants and other organisms; as they eat.

Source: RM

‹ ›