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Issue: Vol. 5647 No. 2: 13 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1
Page range: 101-116
Abstract views: 209
PDF downloaded: 5

Description of two new Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) species of earthworms from Tripura State, North-eastern India

Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development; Mahatma Gandhi University; Priyadarsini Hills; Kottayam – 686560; Kerala; India
House No 77/62; Mansarovar; Jaipur – 302020; Rajasthan; India
Department of Zoology; C.M.S. College (Autonomous); Affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University; Kottayam – 686001; Kerala; India
Tripura State Forensic Science Laboratory; Narsingarh (PTA Complex); West Tripura – 799015; Tripura; India
Department of Zoology; Tripura University (A Central University); Suryamaninagar; West Tripura – 799022; Tripura; India
Department of Zoology; Tripura University (A Central University); Suryamaninagar; West Tripura – 799022; Tripura; India
Department of Zoology; Tripura University (A Central University); Suryamaninagar; West Tripura – 799022; Tripura; India
Department of Zoology; Tripura University (A Central University); Suryamaninagar; West Tripura – 799022; Tripura; India
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development; Mahatma Gandhi University; Priyadarsini Hills; Kottayam – 686560; Kerala; India
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences; Faculty of Basic Sciences; Shoolini University; Solan – 173212; Himachal Pradesh; India
Annelida distribution endemic Oligochaeta soil fauna taxonomy India

Abstract

Eastern Himalaya-Northeastern Hills are the second most earthworm species-rich region in India. Kanchuria Julka, 1988, is a small genus endemic to the north-eastern region of India, with eight known species. Two new species of the genus, namely Kanchuria tripuraensis Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. nov., and K. priyasankari Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. nov., are described from materials collected from the Tripura State in North-eastern India. K. tripuraensis sp. nov. is a unique species of the genus, distinguishable from all other known species by having single ventromedian spermathecae in segments 7 and 8. K. priyasankari sp. nov. belongs to the turaensis-species group characterized by three pairs of spermathecal pores. This group has a total of 5 species, including the new species described herein. Among the congeners of the group, K. priyasankari sp. nov. shows close similarity with K. turaensis Julka, 1988. K. priyasankari sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from the K. turaensis by the small body dimensions and characteristics of the spermathecae. The present work provides detailed descriptions of the new species along with photographs and illustrations of the key characters. A key to species of the genus Kanchuria is also provided. With the discovery of two new taxa, the total number of Kanchuria species has gone up to 10, and megadrile worm diversity reported from the Tripura State has increased to 38.

 

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How to Cite

Narayanan, S.P., Paliwal, R., Kurien, V.T., Nath, S., Dey, A., Nandy, S., Kar, P., Goldar, S., Thomas, A. & Julka, J. (2025) Description of two new Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) species of earthworms from Tripura State, North-eastern India. Zootaxa, 5647 (2), 101–116. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1