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First Record of Exotic Dichogaster saliens (Beddard, 1893) and Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) (Annelida: Clitellata) from Kerala State, Southern India


Affiliations
1 Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, India
2 Department of Zoology, Kannur University College, Mananthavady Campus, Edavaka P.O., Wayanad – 670645, Kerala, India
3 Department of Zoology, Maharajas College, Ernakulam – 682011, Kerala, India
4 School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, Kerala, India
5 Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, Kerala, India
6 School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan –173 212, Himachal Pradesh, India
 

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Among the 102 species of earthworms known from Kerala, Dichogaster saliens (Beddard, 1893) of the Family Benhamiidae and Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) of the Family Megascolecidae were not recorded till date. The presence of exotic earthworms D. saliens and M. posthuma are documented herewith for the first time from Kerala, based on specimens collected from Ernakulam, Palakkad and Wayanad districts. Their descriptive account and distribution is provided.

Keywords

Exotic Species, Earthworms, New Addition, Western Ghats.
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  • First Record of Exotic Dichogaster saliens (Beddard, 1893) and Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) (Annelida: Clitellata) from Kerala State, Southern India

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Authors

S. Prasanth Narayanan
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, India
Basil Thomas
Department of Zoology, Kannur University College, Mananthavady Campus, Edavaka P.O., Wayanad – 670645, Kerala, India
K. S. Sunish
Department of Zoology, Maharajas College, Ernakulam – 682011, Kerala, India
R. Anuja
School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, Kerala, India
S. Sathrumithra
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, India
M. K. Smija
Department of Zoology, Kannur University College, Mananthavady Campus, Edavaka P.O., Wayanad – 670645, Kerala, India
G. Christopher
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, Kerala, India
A. P. Thomas
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam – 686560, Kerala, India
J. M. Julka
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan –173 212, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract


Among the 102 species of earthworms known from Kerala, Dichogaster saliens (Beddard, 1893) of the Family Benhamiidae and Metaphire posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) of the Family Megascolecidae were not recorded till date. The presence of exotic earthworms D. saliens and M. posthuma are documented herewith for the first time from Kerala, based on specimens collected from Ernakulam, Palakkad and Wayanad districts. Their descriptive account and distribution is provided.

Keywords


Exotic Species, Earthworms, New Addition, Western Ghats.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi%2Fv120%2Fi2%2F2020%2F131422