In the current paper we present an updated checklist of all the megadrile earthworms (Crassiclitellata: Annelida) in the world, and notes on the distribution of families worldwide. Biogeographic responses to geological phenomena including plate tectonics, as well as to past and present climate and habitat distributions, are the main factors determining the present distribution of earthworm families. A total of ca. 5,738 species/subspecies (5,406 species and 332 unique subspecies; i.e., not counting the nomino-typical subspecies) belonging to 23 families (including one non-crassiclitellate family: Moniligastridae) are currently recognized worldwide, of which three families (Tritogeniidae and Kazimierzidae from Southern Africa and Arecoidae, a new family from Brazil described herein), 35 genera and close to 1200 new taxa (including subspecies) were described in the 21st century. Nonetheless, the large number of still undescribed species will likely increase this value to well over 8,000 species. Ten families are monospecific and/or monogeneric and have a mostly restricted distribution. On the other hand, more than 87 widespread cosmopolitan species have been catalogued, some of them with important invasive potential, belonging mainly to families Lumbricidae, Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiidae, Megascolecidae, Rhinodrilidae and Ocnerodrilidae. Taxonomic housekeeping was performed for the preoccupied Rhinodrilidae genus Tairona Righi – herein substituted by Taironina nom. nov., and Guarani camaqua Rodríguez & Lima was reinstated and removed from synonymy with Criodrilus lacuum Hoffmeister, 1845, resulting in a wider definition of the Almidae family. Furthermore, Amynthas maximalis nom. nov. is proposed herein as a substitution name for the preoccupied name Amynthas maximus Qiu & Dong, 2019, and Arecoidae is proposed herein as a new monotypic family for the aquamegadrile species Areco reco Righi, Ayres & Bittencourt, 1978.

Lumbricus terrestris was the first earthworm described by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae (1758). It is a large, multisegmented annelid that typically ranges from 8 to 15 cm in length (occasionally up to 35 cm) (Blakemore, 2012). The earthworm L. terrestris is an anecic species, meaning that it lives in deep vertical burrows of 2 m and generally only emerges to feed on surface litter. Because of this characteristic burrowing, anecic species such as L. terrestris are associated with the mixing of soil horizons in the areas that they invade (Postma-Blaauw et al., 2006). When feeding, this earthworm prefers fresh litter rather than accumulated organic matter in the upper soil horizon (Hale et al., 2005). L. terrestris can inhabit all soil types except coarse sands, bare rock, and acidic peat (Sphagnum). It has been found to be constrained by the-15 °C isotherm. It tolerates soils with pH values as low as 3.5-3.7 and as high as about 8, normally in alkaline soils of pH 6.2-10.0. L. terrestris is not frost-tolerant, indicating that it hibernates in deep soil layers during the winter (Tiunov et al., 2006; Wironen and Moore, 2006). Although the species prefer grasslands, pastures orchards, and deciduous forests, being especially abundant in clay and often present in agricultural fields, it fares poorly due to herbicides, mechanical damage, and lack of leaf litter (Frelich et al., 2006; Blakemore, 2012, 2014). L. terrestris is a reciprocally mating simultaneous hermaphrodite, which reproduces sexually with individuals mutually exchanging sperm. It leaves its burrow to copulate on the soil surface. The lifespan of L. terrestris is approximately 5-9 years in culture (Satchell, 1967; Lakhani and Satchell, 1970; Edwards and Bohlen, 1996) and probably less in the field. Sexual reproductivity is usually reached within 1 year (Evans and Guild, 1948; Wilcke, 1952; Satchell, 1967), but the duration of the prereproductive phase is strongly influenced by environmental factors (Lee, 1985). Adult and immature earthworms can be distinguished by the development of a clitellum when reaching sexual reproductivity. L. terrestris grows rapidly for approximately 3 years, with short seasonal pauses in midsummer and midwinter, and reaches an average weight of approximately 9.5-11 g in culture and 5-6.25 g in field populations (Satchell, 1967; Lakhani and Satchell, 1970). After 3 years, the average weight of the earthworms begins to decrease. Often

The current study deals with earthworm biodiversity of Adana Province. Identification was made by examining the earthworm specimens collected in 6 different localities. At the end of the study, 5 species belonging to 3 genus were found: Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny, 1826), Aporrectodea rosea (Savigny, 1826), Aporrectodea trapezoides (Dugès, 1828) and Octodrilus transpadanus (Rosa, 1884).

Strandja or Strandha in Bulgarian and Yıldız or Istranca in Turkish is a mountain massif in southeastern Bulgaria and the European part of Turkey. The mountain is situated in the southeastern part of the Balkans between the plains of Thrace to the west, the lowlands near Burgas to the north, and the Black Sea to the east. Its highest peak is Mahya Dağı (1031 m a.s.l.) in Turkey, while the highest point on Bulgarian territory is Golyamo Gradishte (710 m a.s.l.). The total area of the massif is approximately 10,000 km 2 . Central and southern parts of the mountain are in Turkish territory, which comprises two-thirds of the area. Bosna Hill, which is part of Yıldız (Strandja) Mountain, and the northern parts of the massif are situated in Bulgaria. The climate of the area is considerably influenced by the Black Sea and is predominantly humid continental in the mountains and humid subtropical on the coast.Exploration of earthworm fauna of the Bulgarian part of Yıldız (Strandja) Mountain was begun by Černosvitov (1934). His work was continued by Plisko (1963) and Mihailova (1968). Recently, Uzunov (2010) and Szederjesi (2013) published new data from the region. The Turkish part of the mountain remains almost unexplored; only limited data have been registered by Szederjesi et al. (2014).The aim of the paper is to present new data on the earthworm fauna of Yıldız (Strandja) Mountain and to establish the first list of lumbricid biodiversity by analyzing the newly reported species together with literature data.Investigations were carried out during 3 different periods: September 2015, December 2015, and April 2016. Earthworms were collected using the diluted formaldehyde method (Raw, 1959), complemented with digging and hand-sorting. The combination of both methods creates a more complete sampling of species than the formalin method alone, which is not efficient in collecting species living in horizontal burrows. The specimens were killed in 70% ethanol and temporarily fixed in 4% formalin solution. After fixation in the formalin solution, they were transferred to 95% ethanol and finally into 75% ethanol.

Uludağ is the highest mountain (2.543 m) of the Marmara region in Bursa Province, western Turkey. The Uludağ National Park has rich biodiversity in terms of fauna and flora. Habitats of the park range from maquis on the lower slopes, through deciduous woodland and beech and fir forest to alpine meadows at the highest elevations. The first earthworm records from the Uludağ Mountain were done by Zicsi (1973). His work was continued by Omodeo and Rota (1989, 1991). Species records in these works were based on limited sampling. The current study is the first comprehensive study of earthworms in the Uludağ Mountain area.

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In this study, earthworm biodiversity of the Thrace which is a historical and geographic region in Southeastern Europe, centered on the modern borders of Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece were presented. The study underlines earthworm diversity of Thrace and provides a general overview of their distribution and zoogeographical position. We establish the first list of all known earthworm taxa (Lumbricidae; Criodrilide; Acanthodrilidae) of Thrace. Currently, 40 species, belonging to 16 genera, are registered from the whole territory of the Thrace region. The earthworm fauna of Thrace is dominated by peregrine species. The degree of endemism is relatively high: 20%. Autochthonous species take part with 38% of all earthworm taxa.

In this study, earthworm samples collected from 9 localities in Eskişehir Province were identified. At the end of the identification, 9 taxa belong to 6 genera were found: