Checklist of the earthworms (Oligochaeta) of Kerala, a constituent of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India

Abstract

A checklist of earthworm species hitherto known from Kerala, a constituent of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India, is presented. In total, 88 species and subspecies are recorded, of which 55 are Kerala endemics, 9 near endemics, 14 exotics and 10 native peregrines. These belong to 26 genera and 9 families. The checklist includes the literature citation to the original description, type locality, any significant subsequent generic placements, and the district distributional pattern for each species/ subspecies.

First record of the exotic earthworm Metaphire bahli (Gates, 1945) (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from India

“…It is an important biodiversity region as 48% of its area belongs to the Western Ghats. Various workers have contributed to the taxonomical studies of the earthworm fauna of the state but most of the earthworm species of Kerala were recorded more than 80-90 years ago and many are known only from the original description (Narayanan et al 2016a). At present 98 species/subspecies belonging to 27 genera and 9 families are reported from the state, of which 17 are exotic (Narayanan et al 2016a(Narayanan et al , b, c, 2017.…”

New species and new records of earthworms of the genus Drawida from Kerala part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India (Oligochaeta, Moniligastridae)

“…Within the Western Ghats, the genus has an important centre of speciation in the southernmost state of Kerala, most species being endemic; there are 16 species, ten of which are endemic (Narayanan et al 2016). The present discovery of two new species and five new records of Drawida further contribute to the vast species richness of the genus in the state.…”

“…A great variety of vegetation coupled with high rainfall and moderate temperature has created a cradle for earthworm diversity in Kerala, which harbours about 21% of country’s known earthworm species (Narayanan et al 2016). It is noteworthy that Kerala also possesses about 40% of earthworm species found in the Western Ghats that constitute India’s mega earthworm diversity area with 200 species (Julka and Paliwal 2005, Julka et al 2009, Narayanan et al 2016) of the 505 species from the Indian region (Blakemore 2007).…”

“…It is noteworthy that Kerala also possesses about 40% of earthworm species found in the Western Ghats that constitute India’s mega earthworm diversity area with 200 species (Julka and Paliwal 2005, Julka et al 2009, Narayanan et al 2016) of the 505 species from the Indian region (Blakemore 2007). …”

“…Several species in Kerala are known only from the original description, and most of them were recorded more than 80–90 years ago (Narayanan et al 2016). Hence, we conducted extensive survey of earthworms in diverse habitats in the coastal areas, midlands and various types of forests in the hilly regions of the state.…”