Exploration of Earthworms of India through Online Digital Library

Online digital library (http://earthwormsofindia.com) for identification of earthworms of India has been developed for the first time. The database comprises digital keys for identification of earthworms of India, diagnostics, and mathematical parameters to provide a useful supplement for traditional morphological taxonomists and nonexperts in this area. This will scientifically broaden the taxonomic coverage of Indian earthworms. The genomic signatures with short sequences from standardized regions of the genome for 1192 specimens of earthworms were generated. Earlier, species identification of adult earthworms was possible only by dissection of the anterior end. However, this method is labor intensive, time-consuming, and very difficult for nonspecialists, particularly when dealing with field collections consisting of several different earthworm species. Furthermore, identification is limited to adult worms, as most life stages are unidentifiable and many morphological and anatomical characteristics of earthworms are variable, consequently, and the degree of variability can differ and features can overlap the taxa. The present work appears pioneer endeavor in this direction, as there appears no work available on the digitization of earthworms of India

Phylogenetic Relationships in Earthworm <i>Megascolex</i> Species (<i>Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae</i>) with Addition of Two New Species

Megascolex (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) are endemic species to India and Sri Lanka, however, to date their molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships have not been reported. We applied the first integrative approach using morpho-anatomical features and a COI dataset to unveil species delimitation (SD), molecular taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships in Megascolex species. Our morpho-anatomical results revealed nine Megascolex species, namely, M. auriculata, M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. filiciseta, M. ratus, M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. triangularis, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. polytheca polytheca, and M. polytheca zonatus. We also reported the occurrence of two new species, namely, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov. Such findings were also supported by the analysed COI dataset, in which these new species appeared distinct on the phylogenetic trees with strong support. The studied Megascolex species appeared paraphyletic and formed three subclades on Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees. The first clade consisted of six species: M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. polytheca polytheca, M. polytheca zonatus, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. filiciseta, and M. auriculata with strong posterior probability support. The second clade consisted of M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov with strong support. The third clade consisted of M. ratus and M. triangularis with good support. In addition, the validation of species was confirmed by SD methods, in which the congruence among OTUs was observed with the clear barcode gap of 12–14% suggested by ABGD analysis. However, the species M. ratus and M. travancorensis travancorensis show deep intraspecific divergence and, therefore, require more sampling data. Such findings are essential to study the phylogenetics and evolution of the genus and, nonetheless, demand larger COI datasets to make concrete conclusions

Phylogenetic Relationships in Earthworm Megascolex Species (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) with Addition of Two New Species

Megascolex (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) are endemic species to India and Sri Lanka, however, to date their molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships have not been reported. We applied the first integrative approach using morpho-anatomical features and a COI dataset to unveil species delimitation (SD), molecular taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships in Megascolex species. Our morpho-anatomical results revealed nine Megascolex species, namely, M. auriculata, M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. filiciseta, M. ratus, M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. triangularis, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. polytheca polytheca, and M. polytheca zonatus. We also reported the occurrence of two new species, namely, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov. Such findings were also supported by the analysed COI dataset, in which these new species appeared distinct on the phylogenetic trees with strong support. The studied Megascolex species appeared paraphyletic and formed three subclades on Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees. The first clade consisted of six species: M. cochinensis cochinensis, M. polytheca polytheca, M. polytheca zonatus, M. konkanensis konkanensis, M. filiciseta, and M. auriculata with strong posterior probability support. The second clade consisted of M. travancorensis travancorensis, M. papparensis sp. nov, and M. vazhichlensis sp. nov with strong support. The third clade consisted of M. ratus and M. triangularis with good support. In addition, the validation of species was confirmed by SD methods, in which the congruence among OTUs was observed with the clear barcode gap of 12&ndash;14% suggested by ABGD analysis. However, the species M. ratus and M. travancorensis&nbsp;travancorensis show deep intraspecific divergence and, therefore, require more sampling data. Such findings are essential to study the phylogenetics and evolution of the genus and, nonetheless, demand larger COI datasets to make concrete conclusions

Eutyphoeus phawngpuiensis Tiwari & Lone & Thakur & James & Yadav 2021, sp. nov.

Eutyphoeus phawngpuiensis sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CB351D9C-03D8-4D71-B200-98B63669CEC0 (Fig. 2) Material examined. Holotype: One mature (complete body), (MZ17-574 - 1 A, IEW528-17), (Registration number: DHSGV-ZDM-H001), natural forests (22º67’06” N; 93º03’41”E) Phawngpui Blue Mountain National park Lawngtlai district towards the southeast of Mizoram, close to river Chhimtuipui, 1 August 2017, coll. Shweta Yadav. Paratypes: One mature (2–3 segment taken from anal part for DNA extraction) (MZ17-574 - 1 A1), data same as for holotype; 2 clitellate specimen (MZ17-700 - 23 A20), grasslands (22º 70’87” N; 93º 01’11”E) Cheural village sector-Saiha, Mizoram, data same as for holotype. 1 mature (caudal segment taken for DNA extraction) (MZ17- 609 - 6 A2), natural forests, (22º63’81”N; 93º02’44”E) Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park, close to the peak of blue mountain, Mizoram, data same as for holotype. Paratypes (Registration number: DHSGV-ZDM-272016005), Bold accession number—ADL0658. Diagnosis. Length 119–187 mm, diameter 4–4.9 mm, segments 130–160. Prostomium tanylobic. First dorsal pore in xi/xii. Male pores in xvii. A single pair of spermathecal pores in intersegment 7/8 at ab. Pair of genital markings present ventrally in segments ix/x/xi/xii/xvi at ab and at a on xviii/xix/xx/xxi. Septa 6/7/8 absent. Intestinal caeca broadly tubular. Holandric, seminal vesicle in xii not extends much. Four pairs of supra-intestinal glands. Prostate glands tubular, paired in xvii to xxi; ducts twisted and directly attached to body wall. Bidiverticulate spermathecae. Penial setae with slightly curved and pointed tip. Description. External characters: Body cylindrical, length 119–187 mm, diameter 4–4.9 mm on clitellum, segments 130–160. Prostomium tanylobic. Colour, pigmented brownish, anterior seven segment relatively darkly pigmented while first two segment faded in live sample. First dorsal pore on intersegmental region of xi/xii. Clitellum annular, extends up to four segments i.e., 1/3xiii–xvii. Setae originates from segment iii, arranged regular, uniform throughout the body, setal arrangement aa = 2 ab = 0.5 bc = 1.4 cd = 0.1 dd on xii, aa = 3.2 ab = 1.7 bc = 2.5 cd = 0.15 dd on xxiv. One pair of spermathecal pores with transverse slit openings on intersegment 7/8 at ab. Female pore on segment xiv, between setae aa, presetal, paired, visible in the form of an elongated oval circle of light color. Male genital region avestibulate, pores discharges through transverse aperture on porophores in xvii on setal arc of b or lateral to b. Porophores encircled by thick elliptical projected mass with tapering ends. A distinct groove visible between both projected areas carrying male pores. Genital markings paired, postsetal on segments ix/x/xi/xii/xvi at ab, and paired, postsetal at a on xviii/xix/xx/xxi. Internal characters: Septa 4/5/6 thickened, muscular, septa 6/7/8 absent and 8/9/10 relatively less thickened. Septa 8/9 and 9/10 pulled backwardly. Oesophagus with a single gizzard in segments between v/vi and viii/ix. Dorsal blood vessel complete, extends anterior to gizzard in segment iii. A pair of discrete intramural calciferous glands in xii. Intestine begins in segment xv. Last pair of heart in segment xiii. Lateral intestinal caecae on segment xxvii paired, dorsally directed, broadly tubular. Median ventral caecae unpaired, 18 in number from segments xxxiii–l, supra-intestinal glands 4 pairs in lxxi–lxxv. Typhlosole originate from segment xxvii, simple, lamelliform. Testis holoandric, seminal vesicle in ix and xii, later one extends up to segment xiv, prostate tubular extending from xvii to xxi, ducts twisted and directly attached to body wall (Fig. 2f). Spermathecae paired, bidiverticulate, each with a multiloculate shortly stalked ental diverticula. Both diverticulum opens into a duct through a single opening, duct short and stout. Penial setae 1.30–2.16 mm long, 44–53µm diameter, smooth, tip pointed and slightly curved (Fig. 2i), 3–4 penial setae per battery. Genital marking gland absent. Etymology. “ phawngpuiensis ” is derived from its type habitation the Phawngpui Blue Mountain National park, Mizoram. Variations. The main variations observed between holotype and paratypes are in position of genital markings such as: in holotype the genital marking is present as paired, postsetal on segments ix/x/xi/xii/xvi at ab, and paired, postsetal at a on xviii/xix/xx/xxi segments. While in paratypes, sometimes genital marking on segment viii paired, postsetal at ab or sometimes genital marking on segments xix/xx/xxi were absent. Other variation observed were in female pore, in holotype female pore was clearly visible while in paratypes the position of pore was unclear. Remarks. The new species can be categorized into the Eutyphoeus hastatus group (Gates 1958) characterized by pair of spermathecal pores in 7/8 at ab, avestibulate male pores, holandric testes, short seminal vesicles in xii and a complete dorsal blood vessel. It is discriminated from other species of the group by bidiverticulate spermathecae, spermathecal pore at ab in 7/8, arrangements of genital markings and absence of genital marking glands (Table 3).Published as part of Tiwari, Nalini, Lone, Azhar Rashid, Thakur, Samrendra Singh, James, Samuel W. & Yadav, Shweta, 2021, Three uncharted endemicearthworm species of the genus Eutyphoeus (Oligochaeta Octochaetidae) from Mizoram, India, pp. 41-61 in Zootaxa 5005 (1) on pages 46-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5005.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/514111

Three uncharted endemicearthworm species of the genus Eutyphoeus (Oligochaeta Octochaetidae) from Mizoram, India

Tiwari, Nalini, Lone, Azhar Rashid, Thakur, Samrendra Singh, James, Samuel W., Yadav, Shweta (2021): Three uncharted endemicearthworm species of the genus Eutyphoeus (Oligochaeta Octochaetidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa 5005 (1): 41-61, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5005.1.