New Earthworm Species

New Earthworm Species Latest News

Recently, a team of researchers have discovered two previously unknown species of moniligastrid earthworms and named them as Moniligaster girishi and Drawida reynoldsi.

About Moniligaster girishi

• It is endemic to Western Ghats and belongs to the family Moniligastridae.
• It is named after P. Girish Kumar, a scientist at the Zoological Survey of India’s Western Ghats Regional Centre, Kozhikode.
• It was collected from the tropical wet evergreen forest. 

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Characteristics of Moniligaster girishi

• It is of the gravelyi species-group.
• It is distinguished by a single undivided spermathecal atrial gland on each side of the anterior body, particularly by the condition of its prostate and prostatic capsule.
• It has a smooth, tubular capsule at one end that flattens into a strap-like shape.

About Drawida reynoldsi

• It was collected from the montane grassland.
• It is named after John Warren Reynolds, an eminent Canadian earthworm specialist.
• It belongs to the robusta species-group characterised by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria.

Key Facts about Earthworms

• They are terrestrial worms of the class Oligochaeta (phylum Annelida)—in particular, members of the genus Lumbricus. 
• Earthworms are harmless, often beneficial residents of the soil.
• Benefits

• • They  break down dead and decaying organic matter into rich humus soil, thereby supporting plant growth.
  • Earthworms release waste from their bodies called castings. Castings contain many nutrients that the plant can use. 
  • They also dig tiny channels and make holes that aerate soil and improve drainage.

Source: TH