About New Earthworm Species:
Moniligaster girishi:
- It is endemic to Western Ghats and belongs to the family Moniligastridae.
- It is named after P. Girish Kumar, a scientist at the Zoological Survey of India’s Western Ghats Regional Centre, Kozhikode.
- It was collected from the tropical wet evergreen forest.
- Characteristics of Moniligaster girishi:
- It is of the gravelyi species-group.
- It is distinguished by a single undivided spermathecal atrial gland on each side of the anterior body, particularly by the condition of its prostate and prostatic capsule.
- It has a smooth, tubular capsule at one end that flattens into a strap-like shape.
About Drawida reynoldsi
- It was collected from the montane grassland.
- It is named after John Warren Reynolds, an eminent Canadian earthworm specialist.
- It belongs to the robusta species-group characterised by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria.
Key Facts about Earthworms
- They are terrestrial worms of the class Oligochaeta (phylum Annelida)—in particular, members of the genus Lumbricus.
- Earthworms are harmless, often beneficial residents of the soil.
- Benefits:
- They breakdown dead and decaying organic matter into rich humus soil, thereby supporting plant growth.
- Earthworm releases waste from their bodies called castings. Castings contain many nutrients that the plant can use.
- They also dig tiny channels and make holes that aerate soil and improve drainage.
