Drawida karatala, a new species of earthworm (Clitellata, Moniligastridae) from the Western Ghats of India

Prasanth Narayanan, S. and Paliwal, R. and Sylas, V.P. and Thomas, A.P. and Julka, J.M. (2025) Drawida karatala, a new species of earthworm (Clitellata, Moniligastridae) from the Western Ghats of India. OPUSCULA ZOOLOGICA (BUDAPEST), 56 (3). pp. 97-109. ISSN 0237-5419

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Abstract

A new moniligastrid earthworm Drawida karatala Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in South-western India. It belongs to the Robusta speciesgroup, which is characterized by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria. Within this group, two subgroups are recognized, one with distinctly bilobed atrium (Robusta subgroup) and the other with slightly bilobed atrium (Cochinensis subgroup). The new species belongs to the Robusta subgroup, with distinctly bilobed atrium. In addition to the new species described here, congeners of the Robusta subgroup are, D. robusta robusta (Bourne, 1886), D. robusta ophidioides (Bourne, 1894), D. somavarpatana Rao, 1921, D. thomasi Narayanan & Julka, 2017 and D. paliwali Narayanan, 2024. D. karatala sp. nov., can easily be differentiated from the all the members of the Robusta group by the shape of the spermathecal atrium, which superficially resembles the human palm, and the shape of the prostatic capsule, which is anvil-like with nodulations. The present work provides detailed description of the new species supported with images and illustrations of the key characters. A key to the Robusta species-group is provided. With the addition of the new species, a total of 81 Drawida species are known from India.

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