Ocnerodrilus Eisen, 1878

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2010, Megadrile earthworm taxa introduced to South African soils (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Ocnerodrilidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 289-289 : 305-306

Genus Ocnerodrilus Eisen, 1878

Two ocnerodrilid species, africanus and occidentalis , produce variable morphs and are often not clearly identified. Both species are recorded from RSA but probably belong to one taxon. In this paper, they are given separately.

Ocnerodrilus africanus Beddard, 1893: 703

Type locality indicated for Durban, KZN, RSA, not confirmed. Specimens of Ilyogenia africana Beddard, 1893 and Eudriloides durbanensis Beddard, 1893 have been described from Kew Gardens ( UK) on material apparently received from Durban, KZN, in a box containing various plants. Although both types were initially deposited in the British Museum, the present housing of the type material is unknown, leaving its origin in uncertainty (Blakemore 2006 a; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 65). Michaelsen’s (1913 b) statement that this species is “endemic for Natal” cannot be accepted as this species, before being transported to UK, was probably introduced to South Africa, and Michaelsen (1914) was also of this opinion. To date, this species’ distribution is not certain, possibly being the southern part of Africa. Taxonomic evaluation of material known from RSA is not clear. Described in Ilyogenia by Beddard (1893); by Michaelsen (1913 b) acknowledged under Ocneorodrilus ( Ilyogenia ), accepting Beddard accreditation to Ocnerodrilus (Enicmodrilus) when reporting it from garden soil in Chapel Street, Pietermaritzburg. Zicsi and Pajor (1992) record it under Ocnerodrilus for the material collected from garden soil near the Cathedral Peak hotel in Drakensberg. Zicsi (1998) placed it in Ilyogenia when recording it from Ashburton (near Pietermaritzburg) grassland, at the edge of neighbouring garden. Reynolds and Cook (1976), confusing the generic names Ilyogenia and Ilyodrilus , placed it in the tubificid genus, adding uncertainty to the species’ origin and its identity. According to Blakemore (2006 a) I. africana may be a junior synonym of Ocnerodrilus occidentalis Eisen, 1878 .

Ocnerodrilus occidentalis Eisen, 1878: 10

Typus amissus ( Reynolds & Cook 1976: 146). Type locality unknown. Widely distributed in tropical and temperate zones by human activity ( Righi 1984). Zicsi (1996, 1997 b) reported it from the eastern part of Africa. This species, with great variability in the male genital system and with reduction of spermathecae creating variable morphs, has been accounted to a variety of species. A not clearly elucidated generic relationship between Ocnerodrilus and Ilyogenia ( Righi 1984) misled species generic identification, adding synonyms to taxa accounted to both genera. Blakemore (2006 a) is of the opinion that Ilyogenia africana is a junior synonym of occidentalis . Csuzdi (pers. comm.) supposes that africanus is a thecate form of occidentalis , although africanus has not been recorded from South America and possibly also not outside Africa.

In RSA recorded by Černosvitov (1940) from soil transported from FS to Israel. Zicsi (1998) found this species in the same province, in the Fouriesburg area on the bank of Vaal River near Parys ( NW). Ljungström (1972), following information on the species’s occurrence in FS, expressed his disappointment at not finding it during his extended collecting of earthworms in this country. However, during many years of earthworm collection in South Africa by numerous members of Ezemvelo Wildlife KZN and by Plisko, this species was rarely recorded. All material reported by Zicsi from RSA is kept in the HNHM.