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Seasonal distribution and abundance of four species of earthworms belonging to three families—Rhinodrilidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Megascolecidae (Megascolex konkanensis and Metaphire houlleti) and Octochaetidae (Karmiella karnatakensis)—were studied in three habitats (residential, agricultural and forest) along with edaphic factors around Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), Karnataka, India between September 2014 and August 2016. Among the four species, P. corethrurus was collected throughout the year and was most abundant in residential habitats such as colacasia garden, coconut and banana pits. M. konkanensis was collected from coconut plantations, banana plantations and forest soil during monsoon and post-monsoon periods. M. houlleti was collected from manure heaps, coconut and banana pits of residential habitat, coconut plantations and forest soil. K. karnatakensis was collected from garden soil in residential habitat during the post-monsoon period, coconut plantations and soil mixed with forest leaf litter during monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The soil temperature differ significantly during different seasons in residential (P= 0.01) and agricultural (P=0.03) habitats whereas moisture shows highly significant difference in agricultural habitat (P=0.00037) during different seasons. P. corethrurus showed positive correlation with organic carbon during pre-monsoon and C/N ratio during monsoon in the residential habitat. It shows negative correlation with pH during the monsoon period. M. houlleti showed positive correlation with organic carbon in residential habitat during the pre-monsoon and in forest habitat during monsoon periods. M. konkanensis showed positive correlation with electrical conductivity in agricultural habitats during monsoon period. K. karnatakensis showed positive correlation with moisture during monsoon and with C/N ratio during post-monsoon period in forest habitats.

Small collections of earthworms from the Emirates of Dubai and Ras al Khaimah United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) yielded new distributional records. Celeriella duodecimalis (Octochaetidae) is a new record for Dubai and Konhadrilus zicsii and Ramiella bishambari (Octochaetidae) are the first records for Ras al Khaimah, while C. duodecimalis and K. zicsii are the first records for the U.A.E. These new records increase to eleven the number of earthworm species reported from the U.A.E., all considered to be introductions. No indigenous species have yet been described from the U.A.E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of earthworms, Dichogaster curgensis (Michaelsen, 1921) and Octochaetona beatrix (Beddard, 1902) (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae) are recorded for the first time from the soil of Sikkim. The specimens were collected from different habitats at several altitudinal zones of the study area. The photographic descriptions with illustration are provided. An examination of the history of Sikkim explores possibility of overlooked species actually collected in Sikkim. Therefore, these two species reported here bring the total number of families, genera and species in Sikkim to 7-18-51, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of fourteen species of earthworms belonging to four families, viz., Rhinodrilidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus); Megascolecidae (Lampito mauritii, Megascolex konkanensis, Metaphire houlleti, Metaphire peguana, Perionyx excavatus); Moniligastridae (Drawida ampullacea, Drawida kanarensis and Drawida sulcata) and Octochaetidae (Dichogaster bolaui, Hoplochaetella karnatakensis, Karmiella karnatakensis, Mallehulla indica, Octochaetona beatrix) have been recorded in the selected habitats around Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), Udupi District, South-West Coast of India between September 2014 and August 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal distribution and abundance of four species of earthworms belonging to three families-Rhinodrilidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Megascolecidae (Megascolex konkanensis and Metaphire houlleti) and Octochaetidae (Karmiella karnatakensis)-were studied in three habitats (residential, agricultural and forest) along with edaphic factors around Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), Karnataka, India between September 2014 and August 2016. Among the four species, P. corethrurus was collected throughout the year and was most abundant in residential habitats such as colacasia garden, coconut and banana pits. M. konkanensis was collected from coconut plantations, banana plantations and forest soil during monsoon and post-monsoon periods. M. houlleti was collected from manure heaps, coconut and banana pits of residential habitat, coconut plantations and forest soil. K. karnatakensis was collected from garden soil in residential habitat during the post-monsoon period, coconut plantations and soil mixed with forest leaf litter during monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The soil temperature differ significantly during different seasons in residential (P= 0.01) and agricultural (P=0.03) habitats whereas moisture shows highly significant difference in agricultural habitat (P=0.00037) during different seasons. P. corethrurus showed positive correlation with organic carbon during pre-monsoon and C/N ratio during monsoon in the residential habitat. It shows negative correlation with pH during the monsoon period. M. houlleti showed positive correlation with organic carbon in residential habitat during the pre-monsoon and in forest habitat during monsoon periods. M. konkanensis showed positive correlation with electrical conductivity in agricultural habitats during monsoon period. K. karnatakensis showed positive correlation with moisture during monsoon and with C/N ratio during post-monsoon period in forest habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthworm species, Dichogaster saliens (Beddard), in the Family Octochaetidae is recorded for the first time from the Western Himalayas. The species seems to have been recently introduced in these mountains. Its detailed description along with distribution is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 20 species of earthworms belonging to 13 genera and five families are recorded from northern Indian state of Haryana. Among them, five new records of Ocnerodrilus occidentalis Eisen, Lennogaster pusillus (Stephenson), Ramiella bishambari (Stephenson), Metaphire houlleti (Perrier) and Metaphire birmanica (Rosa) are reported. A simple key for the identification of earthworms of the area is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seven species of earthworms belonging to four families (Glossoscolecidae, Megascolecidae, Moniligastridae and Octochaetidae) were identified from the study site in India. The earthworms, Megascolex konkanenesis, Lampito mauritii (both natives) and Pontoscolex corethrurus (exotic) were three species common across all the soil types and habitats. Of these seven species, four species (Megascolex cochinensis, Amynthas corticis (= A. diffringens), Drawida travancorensis and Dichogaster affinis) were reported for the first time from Thrissur District. The highest number of natives was recorded from Kolazhy. The anterior and posterior parts of L. mauritii showed signs of regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent survey of earthworms carried out in South East Madagascar resulted in collecting two species belonging to the endemic Malagasy earthworm genus Howascolex Michaelsen, 1901. One of the species proved to be identical to the generotype Howascolex madagascariensis Michaelsen, 1901. The other species Howascolex farafangana sp. n. represents the second species of the genus. The genus Howascolex was originally classified in the subfamily Octochaetinae Michaelsen, 1900. However, its close morphological similarity with the Malagasy acanthodriline species implies a homoplasious origin of the meroic excretory system of Howascolex and its inclusion in the family Acanthodrilidae Claus, 1880. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Southern Florida Coastal Plain Ecoregion in the United States occurs in portions of seven counties in southern Florida. There are 37 species found here in 17 genera and six families (Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Megascolecidae, Ocnerodrilidae, and Octochaetidae). Three of the species are native (endemic) to North America (Diplocardia alba, D. eiseni and Pontodrilus bermudensis), all others are European, Oriental, Pantropical or African (exotic) introductions. A description of the ecoregion and three colour photographs are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]