identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03B7C775A55CFF8BFF1C7E8A1ADF4282.text	03B7C775A55CFF8BFF1C7E8A1ADF4282.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Kanchuria Julka 1988	<div><p>Genus Kanchuria Julka, 1988</p><p>Type species. Kanchuria turaensis Julka, 1988</p><p>Diagnosis. Male pores paired, on segment 18; female pore(s) on segment 14; prostates racemose, strap-shaped. Gizzard single, in segment 5; calciferous glands discrete, extramural, 2 pairs, in segments 12–13; typhlosole simple lamelliform or entally bifid; intestinal caeca and supra-intestinal glands absent. Meronephric; astomate and stomate exonephric micromeronephridia present; megameronephridia absent.</p><p>Distribution. North-eastern India (mainly to Khasi and Garo Hills of Meghalaya, also in Tripura and Manipur) (Narayanan et al. 2023).</p><p>Key to the species of Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (modified and updated based on Julka 1988 and Lone et al. 2020)</p><p>1. Spermathecal pore single, in midventral line, segmental.............. K. tripuraensis Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka sp. nov.</p><p>- Spermathecal pores paired, ventrolateral or ventromedian/ close to midventral line, segmental or intersegmental.......... 2</p><p>2. Spermathecal pores 2 pairs.............................................................................. 3</p><p>- Spermathecal pores more than two pairs................................................................... 4</p><p>3. Spermathecal pores on posterior margins of segment 7 and 8; paired seminal grooves diagonally placed with posterior ends convergent (V-shaped) to a single aperture at the centre of genital marking on 18/19............. K. sumeriana Julka, 1988</p><p>- Spermathecal pores on anterior margins of segment 8 and 9; paired seminal grooves convex towards the middle line, with posterior ends terminating at apertures of paired genital markings on the setal arc of segment 19................................................................................................. K. antrophyes (Stephenson, 1924)</p><p>4. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs.............................................................................. 5</p><p>- Spermathecal pores 4 pairs.............................................................................. 9</p><p>5. Seminal grooves present; female pore single or paired........................................................ 6</p><p>- Seminal grooves absent; female pore single..... K. daribokgrensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020</p><p>6. Female pore single; prostate glands in segments 18–21, 22, 23................................................. 7</p><p>- Female pore paired; prostate glands in segments 17–19....................................................... 8</p><p>7. Larger body dimension (length&gt; 250 mm, width&gt; 4.5 mm); spermathecal duct thick, diverticulum club-shaped, shorter than duct plus ampulla................................................................... K. turaensis Julka, 1988</p><p>- Smaller body dimension (length &lt;75 mm, width &lt;3 mm); spermathecal duct thinner, slender, diverticulum tubular, longer than duct plus ampulla........................................... K. priyasankari Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka, sp. nov.</p><p>8. Spermathecal ampulla bulb-like; prostate extends in segments 18–19......................................................................................... K. karorensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020</p><p>- Spermathecal ampulla large elongated sac-like; prostate extends in segments 17–19........................................................................... K. mohiskulensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020</p><p>9. Seminal grooves present; spermathecal ampulla elongated, diverticulum tubular; prostate confined to segment 18.................................................... K. makhulensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020</p><p>- Seminal grooves absent; spermathecal ampulla oval, diverticulum clavate; prostate extends in segments 18–19............................................................................................ K. octotheca Julka, 1988</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7C775A55CFF8BFF1C7E8A1ADF4282	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Narayanan, S. Prasanth;Paliwal, R.;Kurien, Vijo T.;Nath, Sabyasachi;Dey, Animesh;Nandy, Subhrajit;Kar, Prithwiraj;Goldar, Sujata;Thomas, A. P.;Julka, J. M.	Narayanan, S. Prasanth, Paliwal, R., Kurien, Vijo T., Nath, Sabyasachi, Dey, Animesh, Nandy, Subhrajit, Kar, Prithwiraj, Goldar, Sujata, Thomas, A. P., Julka, J. M. (2025): Description of two new Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) species of earthworms from Tripura State, North-eastern India. Zootaxa 5647 (2): 101-116, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1
03B7C775A55FFF8FFF1C789F1E7D4727.text	03B7C775A55FFF8FFF1C789F1E7D4727.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Kanchuria tripuraensis Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka 2025	<div><p>Kanchuria tripuraensis Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka, sp. nov.</p><p>(Figures 1A–B, 2A–F, 3A–D)</p><p>Type material. Holotype: <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.2461&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.8638" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.2461/lat 23.8638)">Clitellate</a> (ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.28502), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.2461&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.8638" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.2461/lat 23.8638)">Lankamura</a> (23.8638° N, 91.2461° E), ca. 5 km northwest of Agartala city, West Tripura District, Tripura State, India, 29 m a.s.l., wooded area, 6 July 2024, collected by S. Prasanth Narayanan, Vijo T. Kurien, Prithwiraj Kar and Subhrajit Nandy. Paratypes: 2 clitellates (ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV. 28503), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.2965&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.6681" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.2965/lat 23.6681)">Jangalia</a> (23.6681° N, 91.2965° E), ca. 2.5 km southeast of Bishalgarh town, Sepahijala District, Tripura State, India, 49 m a.s.l., Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 6 July 2024, collected by S. Prasanth Narayanan, Vijo T. Kurien, Prithwiraj Kar and Subhrajit Nandy ; 1 clitellate (ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV. 28504), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.4676&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.5443" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.4676/lat 23.5443)">Udaipur</a> (23.5443° N, 91.4676° E), Gomati District, Tripura State, India, 22 m a.s.l., Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 8 August 2005, collected by Sabyasachi Nath.</p><p>Other materials. Altogether 36 specimens. 4 clitellates, 1 aclitellate (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1772.) (mainly anterior portions), same collection data as for holotype; 4 clitellates (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1773) (mainly anterior portions), same collection data as for 1 st paratype; 1 clitellate (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1774), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.2933&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.6683" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.2933/lat 23.6683)">Jangalia</a> (23.6683° N, 91.2933° E), Sepahijala District, Tripura State, India, 49 m a.s.l., Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 5 July 2024, collected by S. Prasanth Narayanan, Prithwiraj Kar, Subhrajit Nandy, Priyasankar Chaudhuri, Animesh Dey, Vijo T. Kurien, and Sujata Goldar ; 5 clitellates (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1775), same collection data as for 2 nd paratype; 4 clitellates, 1 aclitellate (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1776), Kamalpur, Dhalai District, Tripura State, India, Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 11 September 2006, collected by Sabyasachi Nath ; 2 clitellates (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1777), Khowai, Khowai District, Tripura State, India, Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 12 September 2005, collected by Sabyasachi Nath ; 5 clitellates, 1 aclitellate (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1778), Agartala, West Tripura District, Tripura State, India, sawdust dumping site and bamboo ( Bambusa sp.) plantation, 12 July 2015, collected by Susmita Debnath ; 2 clitellates (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1779), Kailashahar (Koilasohor), Unakoti District, Tripura State, India, Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 12 October 2006, collected by Sabyasachi Nath ; 6 clitellates (Reg. No. ACESSD /EW/1780), Bishalgarh, Sepahijala District, Tripura State, India, Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 1 September 2005, collected by Sabyasachi Nath.</p><p>Diagnosis. Medium sized worm; length 170–273 mm, width (mid-clitellar) 4.5–7 mm, 294–457 segments. First dorsal pore at intersegmental furrow 10/11. Clitellum annular on segments ½13, 14–17 (= 4½), intersegmental furrows indistinct, seta visible or indication present. Spermathecal pore single, segmental, in midventral line, on posterior margins of segments 7 and 8. Male field a central depression, on segments 18 and 19, with varying levels of elevated margins, male pores minute, closely paired on porophores, at anterior ends of seminal grooves, on mid-ventral line; seminal grooves paired, U-shaped. Genital marking discrete, single, median, intersegmental on 18/19. Female pore single, minute. Intestine origin in segment 15. Metandric. Prostates paired, extends in segments 18–20. Spermathecae single, on segments 7 and 8, ampulla large, ovoid or ovoid-sac, narrowed entally; ampulla and duct indistinctly marked off; unidiverticulate, club-shaped, ental diverticulum, diverticulum shorter than ampulla. Genital marking glands absent.</p><p>Description. External. Pale at anterior with rose tint, greyish appearance posteriorly with light reddish tinge; body circular in cross section; irregular bulging present on body towards posterior end. Dimensions: Holotype: length: 273 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 6 mm, 361 segments; paratypes: length: 171–249 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 4.5–6 mm, 294–457 segments; other materials: length: 170–248 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 4.5–7 mm, 325–403 segments. Prostomium prolobic, retracted, peristomium with several longitudinal striations. Segments 1–3 monoannulated, segments 4–13 bi or tri-annulated, behind clitellum tri or quadri-annulated; setal arc on elevated ridge. First dorsal pore at intersegmental furrow 10/11. Setae small, lumbricine, closely paired, present on segment 2; setal formula aa = 3.4–4 ab = 0.89–1 bc = 2.43–4 cd = 0.09–0.1 dd at segment 12 and aa = 2.62–3.2 ab = 1–1.6 bc = 1.6–2.62 cd = 0.13–0.17 dd at segment 24 (n = 2). Clitellum tumescent, annular on segments ½13, 14–17 (= 4½), colour pale yellowish buff or brownish, dorsal pores occluded, intersegmental furrows indistinct, seta visible or indication present. Spermathecal pore single, segmental, in midventral line, conspicuous or lightly conspicuous, on lightly elevated area with central aperture, on posterior margins of segments 7 and 8, in front of intersegmental furrows 7/8 and 8/9, between aa setal lines (Fig. 1A, B). Male field a central depression, on segments 18 and 19, with varying levels of elevated margins (Fig. 2A–F), male pores minute, closely paired, on slightly raised porophores, at anterior ends of seminal grooves, on mid-ventral line, between aa setal lines (Fig. 2A–B); seminal grooves paired, straight or lightly diagonally placed, diverging posteriorly up to the middle then straight and posterior ends convergent (Ushaped) to a single pore of an unpaired genital marking, on 18/19. Female pore single, minute, indicated by faint whitish transverse depression, presetal, ventro-median, at aa setal lines, on segment 14. Genital marking discrete, single, median, oval or circular, transversely or longitudinally placed (Fig. 2A–F), on 18/19, at bb setal lines, with central aperture, larger than male pore. Nehridiopores not recognizable. Penial setae absent.</p><p>Internal. Unpigmented. Septum 5/6 delicate, septa 6/7–10/11 muscular, 11/12 lightly muscular. Oesophagus with large, muscular, barrel-shaped gizzard, in segment 5 (between septa 4/5 and 5/6), septa 6/7/8 pushed posteriorly in funnel-like manner, take the space of segments 6–8; oesophagus and gizzard attached to parietes with several crisscrossed muscular fibres, which pierce through the muscular septa; calciferous glands on segments 12 and 13; intestine origin in segment 15; intestinal caeca absent; typhlosole bifid entally. Dorsal blood vessel, single and complete.Last pair of hearts in segment 13. Metandric; testis and funnels, paired, free, in segment 11; seminal vesicles paired, racemose, in segment 12; ovaries paired in segment 13. Prostates paired in segment 18, thickly racemose, strap-shaped (Fig. 3A–B), fairly large, longitudinally placed, extends in segments 18–19, 20 (Fig. 3B), penetrating through the septa 18/19/20; prostatic duct short, thin, straight, transversely directed, equal width throughout, with light muscular sheen. Spermathecae single, in segments 7 and 8, on posterior margin, erect, ampulla large ovoid or ovoid-sac, narrowed entally, light transversely striped; ampulla and duct indistinctly marked off; unidiverticulate, club-shaped, ental diverticulum, projected from anterior or on lateral surface of duct, diverticulum shorter than ampulla (Fig. 3C–D). Genital marking glands absent.</p><p>Variations. In recently collected fresh specimens (specimens collected in 2024), setae on the clitellum are visible only at high magnification. In fresh specimens (collected in 2024), the spermathecal ampulla narrowed entally to a pointed end (Fig. 3D), but in old specimens it is narrowed but not much pointed (especially in 2 nd paratype ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV. 28504 and ACESSD/EW/1775). In one specimen, the prostate is twisted upwards and confined to segment 18 (ACESSD/EW/1776). Whereas many specimens showed ‘n-like’ bent in both prostates (ACESSD/EW/1776, 1778) and two specimens, prostate has bent in segment 19 and twisted upwards (ACESSD/ EW/1778). In certain specimens the prostates had deeply incised margins (ACESSD/EW/1776, 1780).</p><p>Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ tripuraensis’ is a toponym and refers to the Indian state of Tripura, from where the new species has been collected and described. Tripura is moderately rich with earthworm species; except for the new species described here, 36 species have been reported from the state (Narayanan et al. 2023; Ahmed et al. 2025). This is the first earthworm species to be named after the state.</p><p>Ingesta. Mainly soil (chiefly sand particles and quartz) and sparse organic matter like rootlets, tiny pieces of bark, etc.</p><p>Habitat. In the present study, it has been mainly collected from plantations (rubber Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg. and bamboo Bambusa sp.), wooded areas, and sawdust dumping sites, and the soil is sandy or silty loam with a pH range of 4.33–7.01. Common vegetation found at the type locality Lankamura is the following: Artocarpus sp., Aquilaria malaccensis Lam., Microcos paniculata L., Achyranthes aspera L., Melastoma malabathricum L., Curcuma longa L., Cida acuta Burm.f., Scoparia dulcis L., Holarrhena pubescens Wall. ex G.Don., Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv., Bambusa cacharensis R.B.Majumdar, Bambusa polymorpha Munro., Paspalum fimbriatum Kunth, etc. Among these, Artocarpus sp., Microcos paniculata, Achyranthes aspera, and Oplismenus compositus are the most dominant species. However, as part of various ecological studies conducted in Tripura State, this species has been recorded (as Kanchuria sp. 1) from cow dung heaps, mixed forests, pastures and various types of plantations (mixed fruit, pineapple, tea) (see Chaudhuri et al. 2012; Chakraborty et al. 2023).</p><p>Biology. It produces large towering casts on the soil surface.</p><p>Ecology. It seems to be an endo-anecic species, as indicated by the large quantity of fine soil, sand, and pieces of rootlets and bark in the intestine. K. tripuraensis sp. nov. was found to coexist with various native ( Drawida assamensis Gates, 1945, D. nepalensis Michaelsen, 1907, D. papillifer Stephenson, 1917, Eutyphoeus comillahnus Michaelsen, 1907, E. gigas Stephenson, 1917, and K. priyasankari sp. nov.), and exotic ( Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857), and Metaphire sp.) earthworm species at different localities. For more details about the ecology of the species, see the works of Dey et al. (2012), Jamatia &amp; Chaudhuri (2017), Chakraborty et al. (2020, 2023) etc., where it is referred to as ‘ Kanchuria sp. 1 ’.</p><p>Distribution. Endemic to India: widespread in Tripura State: Dhalai District: Kamalpur; Gomati District: Udaipur; Khowai District: Khowai; Sepahijala District: Bishalgarh, Jangalia; Unakoti District: Kailashahar (Koilasohor); West Tripura District: Agartala, Lankamura. It is collected from the border regions; hence, it can be found in the adjacent areas of Bangladesh.</p><p>Remarks. Kanchuria tripuraensis sp. nov. is a unique species among the various members of the genus. It can easily be distinguishable from all the other known species of the genus by having a single, segmental spermathecal pore at the midventral line of segments 7 and 8, in front of intersegmental furrows 7/8 and 8/9, and the entally bifid typhlosole. The rest of the species have paired spermathecal pores and simple lamelliform typhlosole.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7C775A55FFF8FFF1C789F1E7D4727	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Narayanan, S. Prasanth;Paliwal, R.;Kurien, Vijo T.;Nath, Sabyasachi;Dey, Animesh;Nandy, Subhrajit;Kar, Prithwiraj;Goldar, Sujata;Thomas, A. P.;Julka, J. M.	Narayanan, S. Prasanth, Paliwal, R., Kurien, Vijo T., Nath, Sabyasachi, Dey, Animesh, Nandy, Subhrajit, Kar, Prithwiraj, Goldar, Sujata, Thomas, A. P., Julka, J. M. (2025): Description of two new Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) species of earthworms from Tripura State, North-eastern India. Zootaxa 5647 (2): 101-116, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1
03B7C775A55BFF80FF1C7DCB1FA444AB.text	03B7C775A55BFF80FF1C7DCB1FA444AB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Kanchuria priyasankari Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka 2025	<div><p>Kanchuria priyasankari Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka, sp. nov.</p><p>(Figure 4A–D, 5A–D)</p><p>Type material. Holotype: <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.8172&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=24.1938" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.8172/lat 24.1938)">Clitellate</a> (ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV. 28500), <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=91.8172&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=24.1938" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 91.8172/lat 24.1938)">Kamalpur</a> (24.1938° N, 91.8172° E), about 2 km southwest of Kamalpur town, Dhalai District, Tripura State, India, 64 m a.s.l., Hevea brasiliensis plantation, 11 September 2006, collected by Sabyasachi Nath. Paratypes: 5 clitellates (ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/ I.R.INV. 28501), same collection data as for holotype .</p><p>Other materials. 26 clitellates (ACESSD /EW/1771), same collection data as for holotype .</p><p>Diagnosis. Small-sized worm; length 44–73 mm, width (mid-clitellar) 2–2.5 mm, 78–207 segments. Clitellum annular on segments ¼13, 14–17 (= 4¼), dorsal pores occluded, intersegmental furrows indistinct, seta visible. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs, segmental, on the anterior margins of segments 7, 8 and 9, lightly extend into the anterior segment, between aa setal lines. Male field a central depression, surrounded by circular elevated margins, extends in post setal arc of segment 17 to presetal arc of segment 19, male pores minute, closely paired, on circular papillae, at anterior ends of seminal grooves, on mid-ventral line; seminal grooves paired, straight. Genital marking discrete, paired, median, postsetal, on segment 18, between bb setal lines, larger than male pore. Female pore single, minute, presetal, ventro-median. Intestine origin in segment 15. Metandric. Prostates paired, extend in segments 18–21, 22, 23, constricted by septa, prostatic duct slender, thin, sinuous, ectal end hemispherical, sessile on parietes. Spermathecae 3 pairs, on anterior margins, in segments 7, 8, 9, ampulla small, ovoid, ampulla and duct distinctly marked off; duct thin, sinuous, longer than ampulla or about same length; unidiverticulate, ectal diverticulum, diverticulum long tubular, stalk slender, comprehensively longer than duct plus ampulla. Genital markings glands absent.</p><p>Description. External. Pale, light rosy greyish (in preservation); body circular in cross section. Dimensions: Holotype: length: 62 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 2 mm, 152 segments; paratypes: length: 48–72 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 2–2.5 mm, 78–179 segments; other materials: length: 44–73 mm, width (mid-clitellar): 2 mm, 93–207 segments. Prostomium prolobic, retracted. First dorsal pore at intersegmental furrow 11/12. Setae lumbricine, widely separated anterior to clitellum, closely paired behind clitellum, present on segment 2; setal formula aa = 1.55–2.12 ab = 0.87–1.13 bc = 1.08–1.54 cd = 0.22–0.23 dd at segment 12 and aa = 2.86–3.5 ab = 1.33–1.4 bc = 1.75–2 cd = 0.22–0.33 dd at segment 24 (n = 2). Clitellum tumescent, annular on segments ¼13, 14–17 (= 4¼), colour brownish red (in preservation), dorsal pores occluded, intersegmental furrows indistinct, seta visible. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs, segmental, on anterior margins of segments 7, 8, 9, lightly extends into anterior segment, thus appears in intersegmental furrows 6/7/8/9, between aa setal lines (Fig. 4A–B). Male field a central depression, with circular elevated margins, extends in post setal arc of segment 17 to presetal arc of segment 19, male pores minute, closely paired, presetal on segment 18, on circular papillae, at anterior ends of seminal grooves, on mid-ventral zone, between aa setal lines; seminal grooves paired, straight to paired genital markings (Fig. 4C–D). Female pore single, minute, in a whitish transversely oval to circular area, presetal, ventro-median, at aa setal lines, on segment 14 (Fig. 4C–D). Genital marking discrete, paired, median, postsetal, somewhat oval-shaped, longitudinally placed, on segment 18, between bb setal lines, with central aperture, larger than male pore (Fig. 4D). Nehridiopores not recognizable. Penial setae absent.</p><p>Internal. Unpigmented. Septum 5/6 delicate, septa 6/7–11/12 muscular. Oesophagus with large, muscular, barrel-shaped gizzard, in segment 5 (between septa 4/5 and 5/6), septa 6/7/8 pushed posteriorly in funnel-like manner, take the space of segments 6–8; calciferous glands on segments 12 and 13; intestine origin in segment 15; intestinal caeca absent; typhlosole simple, lamelliform. Dorsal blood vessel, single, complete. Last pair of hearts in segment 13. Metandric; testis and funnels, paired, free, in segment 11; seminal vesicles paired, racemose, in segment 12; ovaries paired in segment 13. Prostates paired in segment 18, racemose, strap-shaped, somewhat latero-medially flattened, thin, with incised margins, longitudinally placed (Fig. 5A–B), prostatic glands extend in segments 18–21, 22, 23, constricted by septa; prostatic duct slender, thin, lightly twisted, same width throughout, ectal end spheroidal, sessile on parietes (Fig. 5B), muscular shimmer present. Spermathecae 3 pairs, on anterior margins, in segments 7, 8, 9, ampulla small, ovoid, ampulla and duct distinctly marked off; duct thin, sinuous, longer than ampulla or about same length; unidiverticulate, diverticulum long tubular, stalk slender, ectal diverticulum, projected from anterio-lateral surface of duct, diverticulum comprehensively longer than duct plus ampulla (Fig. 5C–D). Genital marking glands absent.</p><p>Etymology. Specific epithet ‘ priyasankari’ is an eponym, a masculine noun in genitive case. The species is named in honour of Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri, former Head, Earthworm Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Tripura University (a Central University) of North-eastern India, for his tremendous contributions to the biological and ecological studies on the earthworms of the Indian state of Tripura.</p><p>Ingesta. Chiefly colloids of fine soil, sand, and sparse organic matter like barks and leaflets.</p><p>Habitat. Hevea brasiliensis plantation with sandy loam soil. Soil pH is around 4.72.</p><p>Ecology. It seems to be an endogeic species, as indicated by the large quantity of fine soil, and sparse organic matter in the intestine.At the type locality, K. priyasankari sp. nov., was found to coexist with the native earthworm species, K. tripuraensis sp. nov.</p><p>Distribution. Endemic to India: Tripura State: Dhalai District: Kamalpur (Fig. 6).</p><p>Remarks. Based on the number of spermathecal pores, species of the genus Kanchuria can be clustered into four different groups, viz., i) “ tripuraensis species-group” which is characterized by two unpaired (single) spermathecal pore at the ventromdeian line; ii) “ antrophyes species-group” which can be distinguished by the presence of two pairs of spermathecal pores; iii) “ turaensis species-group” it has three pairs of spermathecal pores, and iv) “ octotheca species-group” members of this group has four pairs of spermathecal pores. Species belonging to each groups are the following: tripuraensis species-group— K. tripuraensis Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka, sp. nov.; antrophyes species-group— K. antrophyes (Stephenson, 1924) and K. sumeriana Julka, 1988; turaensis species-group— K. turaensis Julka, 1988, K. daribokgrensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020, K. karorensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020, K. mohiskulensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020, and K. priyasankari Narayanan, Paliwal &amp; Julka, sp. nov.; octotheca species-group— K. octotheca Julka, 1988 and K. makhulensis Lone, Tiwari, Thakur, Pearlson, Pavlíc ̌ek &amp; Yadav, 2020.</p><p>Kanchuria priyasankari sp. nov. belongs to the turaensis species group. Including the new species described herein, this group consists of five species, namely, K. turaensis, K. daribokgrensis, K. karorensis, K. mohiskulensis, and K. priyasankari sp. nov. Within this group, K. priyasankari sp. nov. is very close to K. turaensis than other species of the group. K. priyasankari sp. nov. can be differentiated from the K. turaensis by the body dimensions (length 44–73 mm vs 250–350 mm; width 2–2.5 mm vs 4.5–5 mm; segments 78–207 vs 279–490), characteristics of the spermathecae (ampulla small ovoid, duct thin, sinuous, diverticulum long tubular vs ampulla ovoid to sausageshaped, duct thick short, diverticulum club-shaped). Inspection of the holotype (ZSIC An2201/1) of K. turaensis deposited at the National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India (ZSIC), Kolkata, India, by one of the authors (RP), revealed that the prostatic duct is long, slender, sinuous, thinner entally, gradually thickened ectally, and the ectal end is strongly thickened, longer, and sessile on parietes (Fig. 7). Whereas in K. priyasankari sp. nov., the prostatic duct is short, slender, with a light twist, same width throughout, ectal end spheroidal, sessile on parietes. K. priyasankari sp. nov. can easily be differentiated from K. daribokgrensis by the presence of seminal grooves, which are absent in latter. It can be differentiated from K. karorensis by the type of spermathecal diverticulum (ectal diverticulum vs ental diverticulum) and extent of prostate (in segments 18–21, 22, 23 vs in segments 18–19). Through the shape of the spermathecal ampulla (small ovoid vs large elongated sac-like) and extent of the prostate (in segments 18–21, 22, 23 vs in segments 17–19) one can easily distinguish K. priyasankari sp. nov. from the K. mohiskulensis . A detailed comparison of all the known Kanchuria species is provided in Table 1.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7C775A55BFF80FF1C7DCB1FA444AB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Narayanan, S. Prasanth;Paliwal, R.;Kurien, Vijo T.;Nath, Sabyasachi;Dey, Animesh;Nandy, Subhrajit;Kar, Prithwiraj;Goldar, Sujata;Thomas, A. P.;Julka, J. M.	Narayanan, S. Prasanth, Paliwal, R., Kurien, Vijo T., Nath, Sabyasachi, Dey, Animesh, Nandy, Subhrajit, Kar, Prithwiraj, Goldar, Sujata, Thomas, A. P., Julka, J. M. (2025): Description of two new Kanchuria Julka, 1988 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) species of earthworms from Tripura State, North-eastern India. Zootaxa 5647 (2): 101-116, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.2.1
