21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Updated checklist of earthworms belonging to the family Megascolecidae (Annelida: Clitellata: Oligochaeta) in India
Abstract : An updated checklist of diversity of earthworms belonging to the family Megascolecidae in India is presented herewith. A total of 194 species of earthworms belonging to 20 genera of this family are listed which are described and/or recorded in all states and 4 union territories of India. The maximum number of earthworm species of the family Megascolecidae were recorded from Kerala (62 species), followed by West Bengal (42 species), Tamil Nadu (37 species), Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Meghalaya (32 species each), Uttarakhand (26 species), Maharashtra (20 species), and less than 20 species in other states and union territories. Out of 194 species of megascolecid earthworms recorded in India, 163 species (84%) are endemic. Among the genera, Perionyx is the largest genus having 49 species distributed in 24 states and 4 union territories of India, followed by Megascolex (38 species distributed in 12 states and one union territory), Amynthas (17 species distributed in 20 states and 3 union territories. Metaphire is the small genus consisting of only 12 species in India, is distributed very widely in 25 states and 3 union territories. The species diversity of megascolecid earthworms in few larger states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Bihar is recorded very low and need extensive and intensive survey programmes.