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Save Nature to Survive

17(1): 13-22, 2022
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FIRST RECORD OF MEG ASCOLECID EAR

MEGASCOLECID THWORMS FROM
EARTHWORMS
SELECTED REGION OF THE GANGETIC PLAIN OF BIHAR, INDIA

ROHIT SRIVASTAVA1*, MRIDULA KUMARI2, DEOKANT3, SAMIR KUMAR MANDAL1, SWETA SUBARNA1, NEHA
SWATI BAXLA1, SHALINI1, SHEELU KACHHAP1, MANOJ KUMAR4, SUKUMAR DANDAPAT1, RAKESH RANJAN1,
MANORANJAN PRASAD SINHA1
1
Department of Zoology, Ranchi University, Ranchi - 834 008, Jharkhand
2
Department of Zoology, Yadunandan College, Dighwara - 841 707, Saran, Bihar
3
P.G. Department of Botany, Samastipur College, Samastipur - 848 134, Bihar
4
Department of Zoology, St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi-834-001, Jharkhand
e-mail:*drrohitsrivastava1974@[Link]

KEYWORDS ABSTRACT
Lampito mauritii The family Megascolecidae, which is the most speciose family of earthworms, has been found to be represented
Metaphire planata by five species belonging to three genera Lampito Kinberg, Metaphire Sims and Easton and Perionyx Perrier and
Perionyx millardi the species are Lampito mauritii Kinberg, Metaphire planata Gates, Metaphire posthuma Vaillant, Perionyx
Gangetic plain sansibaricus Michaelsen, Perionyx millardi Stephenson, which is the first report from the Gangetic plain of Bihar.
Out of these five, three species, Lampito mauritii, Perionyx sansibaricus and Perionyx millardi are native and rest
Received on : two are peregrine. Three species out of the five namely Lampito mauritii, Metaphire planata and Metaphire
11.10.2021 posthuma are endogeic and Perionyx sansibaricus and Perionyx millardi are epigeic from ecological category
view point. The occurrence of these species has been discussed in particular reference to habitat characteristics.
Accepted on :
27.02.2022

*Corresponding
author

INTRODUCTION Blakemore, 2010, 2013; Plisko and Nxele, 2015; Chang et al.,
2017; Phillips et al., 2019; Bora et al., 2021).Significant
The four ecosystem functions namely- transformation, nutrient contribution in earthworm studies have been made by
cycling, edaphic structure maintenance and population Michaelsen (1907), Stephenson (1923, 1924, 1925, 1930,
regulation, control the ecosystem services ( Groot et al., 2002; 1931), Gates (1972), Jamieson (1977a, 1977b), Julka (1988),
Kibble white et al., 2008) which are though mainly, but not Haldar (1998), Haldar et al., (2004), Mandal and Haldar
exclusively under the regulation of soil biodiversity (Bullock (2004), Gobi et al. (2004), Julka et al., (1997, 2004), Julka and
et al., 2011). Ecosystem services are actually direct or indirect Paliwal (2000, 2005), Narayanan et al., (2014, 2016, 2019,
benefits made available to mankind by natural ecosystems. 2020, 2021), Sinha et al., (2003a, 2003b, 2003c, 2013),
The soil forming processes, one of the services accounts for Mubeen and Hatti (2018) and Srivastava et al., (2003, 2021)
one third of the total ecosystem services which is around 33 in India but there is no report about the earthworms from
Trillion US$ (Sharma et al., 2017). gangetic plains of Bihar except that of Srivastava et al., (2021)
The nutrient cycling or the biogeochemical cycle is regulated who reported for the first time the earthworms belonging to
by soil organisms particularly soil engineers which are mainly family Octochaetidae from the gangetic plain of Bihar. Keeping
earthworms and termites (Jouquet et al., 2006; Barrois, 2007). in view the gap of knowledge the present communication
The earthworms play a major role in soil transformation by records for the first time the earthworms belonging to the family
virtual of being most important detritivores in terrestrial Megascolecidae.
ecosystem in terms of both biomass and activity (Laossi et al.,
2010). In this way the earthworms have come to play very MATERIALS AND METHODS
important role in evolutionary history of man by converting
land into soil and are still contributing in various ways . Earthworms were sampled by monolith method and hand
sorted once per month from an area of 25 X 25 cm during
The various roles played by these creatures underlined the morning hours following Sinha and Srivastava (2001). After
importance of earthworms in soil sub system (Lavelle, 1984, sorting worms were separated into different age groups on the
1988; Lavelle et al., 1997; Fragoso et al., 1993; Singh et al., basis of length and clitellar development. Earthworms were
2020). Earthworms have been studied from different parts of preserved in 70% ethanol with little amount of glycerine.
the globe (Jamieson, 2000; Csuzdi and Mischis, 2010; Sampling was started in 1999 and could not be continued

13
ROHIT SRIVASTAVA et al.,

due to separation of Jharkhand state in 2000. Again sampling A total of five species belonging to family Megascolecidae
was done in 2019 – 2020. Apart from sampling the have been identified. A systematic account on the
earthworms, the soil samples were also analysed for few Megascolecid earthworms of some area of Gangetic plain of
physico-chemical characteristics which influences the Bihar has been presented.
earthworm population. The pH and temperature was measured SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT
by portable digital pH meter and soil thermometer. Moisture
Class Oligochaeta of Phylum Annelida includes Order
content was estimated by oven drying method while total
Haplotaxida
organic matter and organic carbon content was estimated
following Walkley and Black (1934). Order HAPLOTAXIDA
Sampling area Diagnosis- Interseptal male funnels and Testes, male funnels
are one segment anterior to that bearing the male pores.
The Gangetic plain of Bihar covers 44,900 square kilometers.
Some portion of this huge area under the districts of Vaishali, Suborder LUMBRICINA
Samastipur, Saran and Muzaffarpur have been sampled. The Diagnosis- Male pores at least 2 segments posterior to testes.
main sampling points in vicinity of which samplings were Multiple layers of cells forms the Clitellum.
done has been indicated in Table 1 with their geographical Superfamily MEGASCOLECOIDEA
location. The sampling was done mainly from agroecosystem,
grasslands and also from garbage dumping sites. Diagnosis – Large ovaries, fan to rosette-shaped with the
oocytes forming several egg strings.

RESULTS Family MEGASCOLECIDAE Rosa, 1891

Family Megascolecidae Rosa, 1891 is the most speciose family
Table -1 embodies details of the physico chemical profile of of earthworms with 2,208 spp. and 127 subspecies and
soils of sampling sites. The data showed that the soils have belonging to 85 genera. The genera Metaphire (242 spp./
moderate amount of total organic matter (TOM) which is the sspp.), Pheretima (171 spp./ sspp.), and Megascolex (104 sp./
food of earthworms. TOM in soil determines the variety of sspp.) are among the most speciose genera of the family.
earthworm to be found in that soil. The soil appeared to be According to Blakemore (2013) the taxa named under the
alkaline in nature. The sampling points always showed current conventions of ICZN (1999) code should be
moisture content to be more than 25% which is an essential considered while attempting to redefine some megadrile
edaphic factor to sustain earthworms. Soil texture was in general families based on moleculocladistics. He further emphasized
sandy loam type. The soils of garbage heaps, compost pit that ‘molecular phylogeny’ of some worms presented by James
where sampling was done showed variation in TOM from and Davidson (2012) must be treated with caution since
9.23-13.27%. The pH of these soils was recorded seeking taxonomic solution from genetics may not always be
comparatively low. appropriate. The weakness in their study was failure to follow

Table 1. Geographical location and some edaphic characteristics of sampling sites.

District Sampling sites Latitude Longitude pH Moisture OM OC
M±SD content M±SD M±SD
M±SD
Vaishali Minapur (S1) 25.74ºN 85.199° E 7.7±0.61 28.5±2.28 7.9±0.063 4.6±0.036
Panapur (S2) 25.66ºN 85.27° E 7.2±0.57 25.3±2.02 7.4±0.059 4.3±0.034
Goraul (S3) 25.93ºN 85.33°E 7.6±0.6 27.2±2.17 6.7±0.053 3.9±0.031
Lalganj (S4) 25.86ºN 85.17°E 7.8±0.62 26.4±2.11 4.8±0.038 2.8±0.022
Bhagwanpur (S5) 25.85ºN 85.29°E 8.1±0.64 24.9±1.99 4.9±0.039 2.9±0.023
Samastipur Hetampur (S6) 25.50ºN 84.41°E 7.2±0.57 27.3±2.18 5.1±0.041 3.0±0.024
Rosera (S7) 25.75ºN 86.027°E 8.3±0.66 25.3±2.02 4.3±0.034 2.5±0.02
Tajpur (S8) 25.849ºN 85.666°E 7.6±0.6 26.4±2.11 5.5±0.044 3.2±0.025
Pusa (S9) 25.978ºN 85.648°E 7.8±0.62 27.3±2.18 3.7±0.03 2.2±0.017
Kalyanpur (S10) 25.957ºN 85.778°E 7.9±0.63 26.3±2.1 5.3±0.042 3.1±0.024
Saran Dighwara (S11) 25.74ºN 85.01°E 7.2±0.57 27.4±2.19 7.4±0.059 4.3±0.034
Basatpur (S12) 25.999ºN 84.689°E 8.1±0.64 24.9±1.99 6.5±0.052 3.8±0.03
Malkhachak (S13) 25.747ºN 85.02°E 8.3±0.66 26.3±2.1 6.3±0.051 3.7±0.029
Salhadi (S14) 25.736ºN 85.037°E 7.9±0.63 27.1±2.16 6.2±0.049 3.6±0.028
Sobarna (S15) 25.728ºN 84.929°E 7.6±0.6 25.4±2.03 8.1±0.064 4.7±0.037
Chapra (S16) 25.781ºN 84.75°E 7.6±0.6 28.4±2.27 6.7±0.053 3.9±0.031
Ekma (S17) 25.96ºN 84.53°E 7.1±0.56 27.4±2.19 6.7±0.053 3.9±0.031
Sonepur (S18) 25.69ºN 85.178°E 7.6±0.6 28.6±2.28 6.2±0.049 3.6±0.028
Muzaffarpur Minapur (S19) 26.34ºN 85.60°E 7.8±0.62 26.8±2.14 7.2±0.057 4.2±0.033
Sakra (S20) 25.97ºN 85.56°E 8.1±0.64 24.6±1.96 7.7±0.062 4.5±0.036
Motipur (S21) 26.25ºN 85.35°E 7.9±0.63 25.8±2.06 5.1±0.041 3.0±0.024
Turki (S22) 26.03ºN 85.35°E 7.4±0.59 27.3±2.18 5.6±0.045 3.3±0.026
Dholi (S23) 25.99ºN 85.59°E 7.7±0.61 25.4±2.03 6.8±0.055 4.0±0.032
pH in units , moisture in %, TOM and OC in mg g-1 soil .

14
 FIRST RECORD OF MEGASCOLECID EARTHWORMS FROM SELECTED REGION

4.0
Megascolecidae

2.0
Argilophilid/Plutellid

2.0
Pontodrilid

3.5
Exxid

2.5
Benhamid/Trigastrid
1.5
Diplocardid
2.0 Octochaetid

1.0 Acathodrilid

Ocnerodrilid

Fig.1: Phylogeny of the Megascolecoidea taxa constructed on weighted morphology of their types after Blakemore (2008) corresponding to an
actual molecular phylogram presented in Blakemore (2005, 2008) (After Blakemore, 2013).

ICZN (1999) whereby a family is defined on the basis of the Distribution - Eastern U.S.S.R, Japan, Korea, Southern China
characteristics of a representative type genus implicit in the to Australasia.
name of the family. Blakemore(2013) suggested that if Genus Lampito Kinberg
molecular cladists follow a Phylo code instead of using
Diagnosis - Perichaetine setae. Male pores are paired on xviii;
Linnean taxonomy, which was earlier independently
paired female pores on xiv. Oesophagus with a single gizzard
suggested by Timm (2005) to be a better option. An ‘ideal’
in v, calciferous lamellae in x-xiii, absence of intestinal caeca
phylogenetic arrangement for these megascolecoid taxa based
and supra-intestinal glands, presence of typhlosole.
on weighted morphology of their primary types is shown in
Meronephric paired tufts of astomate micromeronephridia on
Fig. 1. septa v-xiii, xiv, with ducts from some tufts opening into
Any family reviewed without consideration of types becomes pharynx; numerous, v-shaped, astomate, exonephric
meaningless. But if monophyly is strictly employed then each micromeronephridia on the body wall in xv and posteriad
type deserves its own unique family or else all families may segments; paired, stomate, enteronephric megameronephridia
telescope into the earlier taxon. It is clear that a rational in xx and posteriad segments.
moderation is required (Blackmore, 2013).But there are Distribution- India: Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha,
authors who believe that not only the morphological and Karnataka, Palni and Cardomom Hills. Lampito mauritii is
anatomical details but also the available molecular studies widely distributed throughout India and also to other parts of
advocate its monophyly with slight differentiation inside the the world probably due to transportation.
family. These evidences contradict taxonomic divisions put
Lampito mauritii Kinberg
forward by Jamieson et al., (2002) and Blakemore (2013).
1866. Lampito mauritii Kinberg, Ofvers. K. Vetens. – Akad.
Some species of the family belonging to genera Amynthas Forhandl. Stockholm, 23:103 (Type locality: Mauritius);
and Metaphire, as well as Perionyx excavatus Perrier, are Stephenson, 1923, Fauna Br. India, Oligochaeta : 259-260;
known to be the most widely distributed earthworms in the Gates, 1938. Rec. Indian Mus., 40: 413; Gates, 1960, Bull.
world (Blakemore, 2009). Some species have been extensively Mus. comp. Zool. Harv., 123 (6): 243 Gates, 1972, Trans. Am
transported to different parts of the world by human interference phil. Soc., 62 (7): 133.
from their native range. Owing to the presence of
Diagnosis - Length 95-155 mm, diameter 3-6 mm, 157-201
parthenogenetic morphs, and wide plasticity in terms of soil
segments. epilobic prostomium, closed tongue. First dorsal
and habitat preferences in several of these species are found
pore in 10/11 or 11/12 or 12/13. Clitellum annular, xiii, ½ xiii-
to be excellent invaders, particularly in subtropical, tropical
xvii. Setae 26-39 on iii, 40-51 on viii, 38-50 on xii, 30-43 on
and even temperate regions (Brown et al., 2006; Chang et al., xx. Male pores on slightly raised porophores, at or lateral to b.
2017). Female pores presetal, within aa. Paired spermathecal pores
Diagnosis- Body cylindrical. Presence of dorsal pores, Male in 6/7/8/9. Genital markings absent.
pores posterior to xvi. pre-testicular segments bears Septa present from 4/5, 7/8-12/13 muscular. Intestine begins
spermathecae, racemose prostates with no central canals. in xv; typhlosole rudimentary. Last pair of hearts in xiii.
Last pair of hearts posterior to xi. Holo or meronephric. Holandric; seminal vesicles in ix and xii. Penial setae

15
ROHIT SRIVASTAVA et al.,

1926. Pheretima planata Gates, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (ser. 9):
17:411 (Type locality: Rangoon, Burma); Gates, 1972, Trans.
XIV Am. phil. Soc., 62 (7): 211; 1972. Metaphire planata Sims
and Easton, Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 4:239.
Diagnosis- Length 64-176 mm, diameter 4-7 mm, 115-142
1mm

segments. Prostomium absent or [Link] dorsal pore

0.05mm
in 10/11 or 11/12. Clitellum annular, xiv-xvi. Setae 75-87 on
1mm

viii, 63-78 on xii, 55-65 on xx, 35-42 between spermathecal

pores, 8-14 between male pores. Male pores paired, on xviii.
XIX Female pores single, median, presetal on xiv. Spermathecal
pores paired, minute, on anterior margins of vii and viii. Genital
(A) (B) (C) markings small, circular, 1-4 slightly median to each
Fig-2: Lampito mauritii Kinberg (A) Male Genital Region (B) spermathecal pore, 8-13 on roof and walls of each copulatory
Spermatheca (C) Penial setae pouch.
Septa 6/7/8 muscular, 8/9/10 absent, 10/11-12/13 slightly
ornamented with closely crowded circles of triangular teeth,
tip horse shoe-shaped, 1.32-2 mm long, 24-31m diameter. muscular. Intestine begins in xv; intestinal caeca paired, simple
Spermathecae paired in vii-ix, each with a median and a lateral originating in xxvii and extending forward to xx; typhlosole
digitiform diverticula. simple, lamelliform. Last pair of hearts in xiii. Holandric,
testes and male funnels contained in paired sacs in x and xi,
Distribution- India: Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar (S2, S3, S8, S10, testis sacs of x ventral, those of xi vertical and include seminal
S11, S12, S16, S18, S20, S23), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, vesicles of xi; seminal vesicles in xi and xii. Spermathecae
Laccadive and Minicoy. Sri Lanka, Maldives, Burma, paired in vii and viii, each with a diverticulum which is longer
Bangladesh, Sumatra, Philippines, China, Hongkong. than the main axis. Genital marking glands composite, stalked.
Habitat- Grassland, forest, crop field, compost pit, domestic Distribution- India: Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar (S1, S4, S7, S8,
garbage and sewage system. Usually more abundant in soils S10, S11, S15, S18, S19, S22), West Bengal, Assam, Andaman
with high organic matter (>5g%) and neutral to slightly alkaline Islands, Chattishgarh, Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia.
pH (>7.0).
Material examined-28 clitellate specimens from different SP
districts of Bihar.
VIII
Biology- Maximum monthly population in some habitats are
255 m-2 in cropland and 320m -2 from grassland (Kumari,
2013), 37 m-2 from grazed upland pasture and 42 m-2 from
ungrazed upland pasture (Senapati and Dash, 1981); grazed XIV
FP
forest 64 m-2 (Mishra and Dash, 1984); ungrazed lowland
pasture 240 m-2 (Dash and Patra, 1977).
Oval cocoons are with a hatching and a non-hatching end, MP XVIII
average length and diameter of the cocoon is 4.7 mm and
3.35 mm respectively, incubation period is around 4 weeks. 1MM
Usually one, juvenile hatch out from each cocoon (Dash and (A) (B)
Senapati, 1980).
Fig -3: Metaphire planata Gates (A) External ventral view (B)
Genus Metaphire Sims and Easton Spermatheca (SP =Spermathecal pore, FP = Female pore, MP =Male
Diagnosis- Perichaetine Setae. Paired male pores (combined pore)
with prostatic pores) within copulatory pouches on xviii, rarely
Metaphire posthuma Vaillant
xix or xx. Oesophagus with a single gizzard between septa 7/
8 and 9/10 and without pouches; intestinal caeca present; 1868. Pheretima posthuma Vaillant, Annls. Sci. nat. (ser. 5),
originating in or near xxxii; supra-intestinal glands absent. 10 : 228 (Type locality : Java); 1900. Pheretima posthuma
Meronephric; paired tufts of astomate, enteronephric Michaelsen, Tier. x :295; 1909. Pheretima posthuma
micromeronephridia in iv-vi; numerous, astomate, exonephric, Michaelsen, Mem. Ind. Mus., i : 189; 1914. Pheretima
v-shaped micromeronephridia on the body wall in iii and posthuma Stephenson, Rec. Ind. Mus., x : 342; Stephenson,
posteriad segments; several stomate, enteronephric, slightly 1923, Fauna Br. India, Oligochaeta : 309-311; Gates, 1972
enlarged micromeronephridia on both sides of septa from Trans. Am. phil. Soc., 62 (7) : 212; 1972. Metaphire posthuma
16/17 posteriorly; nephridia absent from spermathecal ducts. Sims and Easton, Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 4 (3): 239.
Distribution- Oriental region from Japan southwards through Diagnosis- Length 60-140 mm, diameter 3-8 mm, 91-124
the Indo-Australasian archipelago to the rain forests of segments. Prostomium epilobic, tongue usually open. First
Australasia through Oceania. dorsal pore in 12/13. Clitellum annular, xiv-xvi. Setae 106-
Metaphire planata Gates 129 on viii, 63-75 on xii, 60-95 on xx, 36-44 between

16
 FIRST RECORD OF MEGASCOLECID EARTHWORMS FROM SELECTED REGION

spermathecal pores, 16-22 between male pores. Male pores presetal on xiv. Oesophagus without or with a single, small
on xviii, 0.25 body circumference apart. Female pore single, gizzard in v or vi; discrete calciferous glands, intestinal caeca,
median, presetal on xiv. Spermathecal pores paired, minute supra-intestinal glands and typhlosole absent. Holonephric.
in 5/6-8/9, 0.26-0.33 body circumference apart. Genital Distribution- India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
markings paired, usually on setal arcs of xvii and xix slightly Perionyx sansibaricus Michaelsen
median to male pore lines, sometimes on xvi and a few
1891. Perionyx sansibaricus Michaelsen, Mitt. Naturh. Mus.
segments posterior to xix.
Hamb., 9:4 (Type locality: Zanzibar); 1903. Perionyx
Septa 5/6-8/9 muscular, 9/10 absent. Intestine begins in xv; sansibaricus Michaelsen, Sb. Bohm. Ges. Prag, xl : 8; 1921.
intestinal caeca paired, simple, originating in xxvii and extending Perionyx sansibaricus Stephenson, Rec. Ind. Mus. xxii : 761;
anteriorly to xxiv; typhlosole simple, lamelliform. Last pair of Stephenson, 1923, Fauna Br. India, Oligochaeta : 356.
hearts in xiii. Holandric, testes and male funnels enclosed in
Diagnosis- Length 32-120 mm, diameter 2.5-3.5 mm, 84-108
unpaired sacs, those of x ventral, those of xi vertically U-shaped;
segments. Prostomium epilobic, first segment with a mid-dorsal
seminal vesicles in xi and xii, those of xi small, included in the
groove. First dorsal pore in 2/3, but variable in location.
testis sac; pseudovesicles small, in xiii. Spermathecae paired,
Clitellum annular, xiii-xvii. Setae 54 on ix, 58 on xii, 47 on xix.
in vi-ix, each with an ental diverticulum of variable length,
Male pores usually presetal, near mid-ventral line, in a slightly
Genital marking glands sessile.
depressed transverse male field. Spermathecal pores paired,
Distribution- India: Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa, near mid-ventral line, in 6/7/8/9. Genital markings absent.
Rajasthan, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar (S3, S5, S6, S10, S12, Nephridiopores conspicuous, in two series on each side,
S13, S14, S17, S19, S21, S22), Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, alternately dorsolateral and ventrolateral.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia, Burma, Bangladesh,
Septa present from 4/5. Gizzard slightly developed in vi;
Thailand, Malaya Peninsula, Philippines.
oesophagus widened in xiii; intestine begins in xvi. Last pair of
Material examined- 15 clitellate worms. hearts in xii. Holandric, testes and male funnels free, in x and
Habitat- It inhabits subsoil at 10-20 cm depth in sandy loam xi; seminal vesicles racemose, in xi and xii. Penial setae absent.
soil with a high organic content (>5%). It is usually found in Spermathecae paired, in vii-ix, each with an ental pear-shaped,
grassland, lawn and kitchen garden. shortly stalked, multiloculate diverticulum. Nephridia
Biology- Metaphire posthuma is geophagous and feeds vesiculate.
underground. At one site near a well in grassland at Baleswar Distribution- India: Bihar (S1, S2, S5, S6, S7, S9, S13, S14,
the population density was 30 worms m -2. Breeding is S16, S21, S23), Jharkhand, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Odisha,
interrupted by summer and the worms undergo quiescence. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.

XIII
XIV
1mm

1mm

0.5mm
0.5mm

XIX
XIX (B)
(A) (A)
(B)
Fig-4: Metaphire posthuma Vaillant (A) Male Genital Region (B) Fig-5: Perionyx sansibaricus Michaelsen (A) Male Genital Region
Spermatheca (B) Spermatheca

However, breeding is apparently possible throughout the year Material examined- Several juvenile, immature and mature
where adequate moisture is available (Bahl, 1925). Incubation specimens from different district of Bihar.
period is about 8 weeks in the field and 4-5 weeks under the Habitat- It is usually found in grassland, kitchen garden,
laboratory conditions (Tembe and Dubash, 1959).Usually one garbage dumping and compost pit sites at a depth of 0-20cm.
young hatches from each cocoon, which is spheroidal in Biology- At a garbage dumping site near Morhabadi, the
shape. A newly hatched worm matures after 8 weeks (Gates, population density of worm ranged between 375-10050 m-2
1972). Casts are deposited on the soil surface in the form of with a biomass of 11.53 – 328.38 g dry weight m-2 (Sinha and
small heaps of loose ovoidal pellets. Srivastava, 2001).
Genus Perionyx Perrier Perionyx millardi Stephenson
Diagnosis- Setae perichaetine. Male pores (combined with 1915. Perionyx millardi Stephenson, Mem. Indian Mus., 6:
prostatic pores) paired, on xviii; female pore unpaired, median, 74 (Type locality: Bombay, India); Stephenson, 1923, Fauna

17
ROHIT SRIVASTAVA et al.,

Br. India, Oligochaete: 342. regional and even on global scale are dependent on habitat
Diagnosis- Length 40-90 mm, diameter 2-2.5 mm, 126-170 characteristics. A number of climoedaphic factors influence
segments. Prostomium epilobic, tongue closed or open. First density, diversity and activity of the earthworms such as food
dorsal pore in 4/5 or 5/6. Clitellum annular, xiii-xvii. Setae 40 quality and quantity (Lee, 1985; Curry, 2004, Sinha et al.,
on ix, 41 on xii, 48 on xix. Male pores near mid-ventral line, on 2013), soil temperature and moisture (Berry and Jordan, 2001;
small papillae. Spermathecal pores paired, in 7/8/9, near mid- Wever et al., 2001; Sinha and Srivastava, 2001; Sinha et al.,
ventral line, at b. Genital markings absent. Nephridiopores 2002, 2003d, 2003e, 2008; Srivastava and Sinha, 2004a,
inconspicuous, in a rather irregular longitudinal rank on each 2004b; Srivastava et al., 2012, 2013) and soil structure and
side. texture (Nuutinen et al., 1998; Baker and Whitby, 2003; Smetak
Septa all present from 4/5. Gizzard slightly developed in vi. et al., 2007).The relationship of earthworm activity to soil
Intestine begins in xviii or xix. Last pair of hearts in xiii. physical and chemical properties has been well documented
Holandric, testes and male funnels free, in x and xi ; seminal (Whalen, 2004; Marhan and Scheu, 2005; Ammer et al., 2006),
vesicles in xi and xii, those of xii extend posterior to septum 13/ in pasture (Baker et al., 1992; Decaens et al., 2004; Winsome
14. Penial setae ornamented with 9 to 10 circles of fairly sized et al., 2006) and agricultural systems (Edwards et al., 1995;
spines, 0.44-0.65 mm long, 15-18 µ diameter. Spermathecae Lamande et al., 2003), but has not been well studied in Indian
paired, in viii and ix, each with an ental diverticulum. Nephridia conditions which has diverse climoedaphic regions. Selected
avesiculate. sampling areas for the present study are from Gangetic plain
Distribution- India: Orissa, Bihar (S3, S4, S7, S9, S11, S14, of Bihar which is highly fertile land and intensive farming is
S15, S17, S20, S21, S22), Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, the practice.
Maharashtra. The agricultural soils differ from grassland and forest soils in
Material examined- 7 aclitellate, 13 clitellate. the type and degree of human alteration that has occurred
during farming. Original soil profiles in crop fields are
substantially altered due to agricultural practices which become
the reason of decreasing diversity and density of soil organisms,
Spermathecal
most important among them is earthworms (Scheyer and
VIII
pore Hipple, 2005). Management practices including mulch-
mowing, irrigation, fertilization and their intensity have been
reported to affect earthworm activity and population. It has
been reported that earthworms are affected by habitat
disturbance and management practices and can influence
XIV ( Female pore)
soil profile development significantly (Lee, 1985; Edwards and
Bohlen, 1996), soil structure (Kladivko et al., 1986; Oades,
1993), nutrient cycling, and plant productivity (Blair et al.,
1995; Stephens and Davoren, 1996), therefore, it is of value
XVIII
(male pore) to study the earthworm faunal diversity in intensively
agricultural area of the Gangetic plain of Bihar which has not
(A) (B) been studied earlier.
Among the sampled species Lampito mauritii, Metaphire
Fig-6: Perionyx millardi Stephenson (A) Genital region (B) Sper-
matheca
posthuma, Metaphire planata are the endogeic species that
create horizontal burrows and feed on organic matter while
Habitat- Usually found in neutral soils (pH 7) having high other two species of the family belonging to the same genera
organic material and moisture content ( ≥ 10g%). Perionyx sansibaricus and Perionyx millardi are epigeic and
Biology- Population density at Jyoti Vihar ranged from 50/m2 dwells and feeds on surface litter (Bouche, 1977). Among the
to 500/m2 during summer and rainy months respectively. recorded species 66.66 % is native earthworm species
Cocoons are elongate and ‘S’-shaped which are of light colour collected mostly from grassland sites. Only 33.33% species
initially but turns dark later on. Incubation period is about 3-4 has been found in agricultural fields which are peregrine (Table
weeks. Usually one young worm emerges from each cocoon 2).
(Senapati, 1980). The lower number of native species is consistent with results
of studies conducted in agricultural fields within the study
DISCUSSION area (Fauci and Bezdicek, 2002; Johnson-Maynard et al.,
2007). Alteration in habitat has been considered as the main
The diversity, density and distribution of earthworm on factor for establishment of exotic earthworm population (Kalisz
Table - 2: Native and Peregrine earthworm genera and species of family Megascolecidae.
Genera Species Epigeic / Endogeic Native or Peregrine
Lampito Lampito mauritii Endogeic Native
Metaphire Metaphire planata Endogeic Peregrine
Metaphire Metaphire posthuma Endogeic Peregrine
Perionyx Perionyx sansibaricus Epigeic Native
Perionyx Perionyx millardi Epigeic Native

18
 FIRST RECORD OF MEGASCOLECID EARTHWORMS FROM SELECTED REGION

and Wood, 1995; Hendrix and Bohlen, 2002). It has also dynamics of earthworms (Oligochaeta) in cultivated soil of central
been reported that the native earthworms inhabiting the Himalayan Tarai region. Tropical Ecology. 44(2): 227-232.
undisturbed habitat might have been removed from the habitat Blakemore, R. J. 2005. Whither Octochaetidae? – A review of its
or killed after on setting of disturbances due to anthropogenic family status (Annelida: Oligochaeta). In: Advances in Earthworm
activities. This is supposed to provide a way to the Taxonomy II. Proceedings IOTM2, Pop, A. A. and Pop V. V. (Eds.),
establishment of earthworm populations dominated by exotic Cluj University Press, Romania, p. 63–84.
species which may be better suited to survive in disturbed Blakemore, R. J. 2008. Phylogeny of Megascolecoidea revisited with
soil conditions (Smetak et al., 2007). In the present study exotic recourse to non-molecular means. In: Advances in Earthworm
Taxonomy III. Proceedings IOTM3. Pavlicek, T & Cardet, P. (Eds.)
species were found in agricultural fields which is disturbed
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of the
due to agricultural practices while native species were found Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia. p. 11–22.
in grassland which was less or not disturbed.
Blakemore, R. J. 2009. Cosmopolitan earthworms – a global and
Earthworm diversity tended to be low with one to three species historical perspective. In: Annelids as model system in the Biological
present within a locality (Smetak, 2007) is justified by the Sciences, Shain, D. H. (Ed.), John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp.
present study. Low earthworm species diversity within a site 257-283.
has not been found to be uncommon. Most earthworm Blakemore, R. J. 2010. Cosmopolitan earthworms– an Ecotaxonomic
diversity studies report the presence of between two and five guide to the peregrine species of the world. 4 thed. VermEcology,
species at any one location (Lee, 1985, Srivastava et al., 2003, Yokohama.
2012, 2013; Sinha et al., 2003e, 2008; Srivastava and Sinha, Blakemore, R. J. 2013. The major megadrile families of the world
2004a, 2004b). reviewed again on their taxonomic types (Annelida: Oligochaeta:
Megadrilacea). Opuscula Zoologica, Budapest. 44(2): 107-127.
Very few reports are available on earthworm diversity of the
Blair, J. M., Parmelee, R. W. and Lavelle, P. 1995. Influences of
Gangetic plain. Kaushal et al., (1999) reported 9 species of earthworms on biogeochemistry. In: Earthworm Ecology and
Megascolecid earthworms from Kumaon Himalaya namely Biogeography, Hendrix, P.F. (Ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 127–
Amynthas alexandri, A. corticis, A. gracilis, A, morrisi, E. 158.
annaldeli, Metaphire anomala, [Link], [Link] and Bora, S., Bisht, S.S. and Reynolds, J. W. [Link] diversity of
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alexandri, A. morrisi, Perionyx excavatus and Metaphire Bouche, M.B. 1977. Strategies lombriciennes. In: Soil organisms as
posthuma) from Doon Valley. From Gangetic plain of Uttar components of Ecosystems. Ohmand, U. L. and Person,T. (Eds.),
Pradesh while studying the earthworm resources, Verma et Ecol. Bull (Stockholm). 25: 125-132.
al., (2010) found six Megascolecid species Lampito mauritii, Brown, G. G., James, S. W., Pasini, A., Nunes, D. H., Benito, N. P.,
Metaphire anomala, M. biramica, Metaphire posthuma, Martins, P. T. and Sautter, K. D. 2006. Exotic, peregrine, and invasive
Perionyx sansibaricus and Polypheretima elongata. The earthworms in Brazil: Diversity, distribution and effects on soil and
plants. Caribbean Journal of Science, 42: 339-358.
present study is in conformity with the record of the number
of species from the gangetic plain adjoining to the present Bullock, J. M., Aronson, J., Newton, A. C., Pywell, R. F. and Rey-
Benayas, J. M. 2011. Restoration of ecosystem services and biodiversity:
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conflicts and opportunities. TREE. 26: 541–549.
enlistment of more species which is on the way.
Chang, C. H., Snyder, B. and Szlavez, K. 2017. Asian pheretimoid
earthworms in North America north of Mexico: An illustrated key to
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