Nemertodrilus Michaelsen, 1890

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 : 293-294

Genus Nemertodrilus Michaelsen, 1890

Nemertodrilus kellneri Michaelsen, 1912: 57

Described from Bloemfontein, FS, RSA. Reported from the type locality and Kummernais in Namibia. Known also from the banks of the Orange River ( FS). Stephenson (1930: 870) stated this species to be a “peregrine”. Michaelsen (1914) supposed a limited distribution, suggesting natural transportation to RSA by rivers. However , it is not know if this species was introduced from other part of Africa or, being indigenous to central western- or eastern Africa , its occurrence in southern Africa is habitual. To date, 100 years after the species was described, and after its second reporting by Michaelsen (1914),it has not been collected in any other part of RSA. Two other species of this genus, recorded below, were found distantly to the kellneri type locality, in the north-eastern part of RSA. It is also not clear if these two species are indigenous or are introduced from neighbouring Mozambique, where congeners occur (Michaelsen 1890 b) .

Nemertodrilus kruegeri Zicsi & Reinecke, 1992: 151

Described from Marumbeni, KNP, LP, RSA. Known only from the type locality and a few nearby sites, all in KNP: Marumbeni , Eileen , Sndwini , Mafagalamba and between Masitonto and Incomati rivers running in the park. It is not clear if this species is indigenous to RSA, or introduced with planted bushes or trees from neighbouring areas (compare notes for transvaalensis ) .

Nemertodrilus transvaalensis Zicsi & Reinecke, 1992: 153

Described from Shabarumbe, KNP, LP, RSA. Known from the type locality and other 19 localities in the central part of KNP, between the Letaba and Olifants rivers flowing to the Limpopo River, and slightly north of the Letaba River (LP). This species is the second of this genus found in north-eastern RSA. Both occur not far apart, and to date have not been collected elsewhere in RSA or in Africa. However, another species of this genus, griseus, is known from the banks of the Zambesi River in Mozambique (Michaelsen 1890 b). It is possible that kruegeri and transvaalensis are indigenous to South African soil, extending the range of the eudrilids’ occurrence to the south. However, their introduction and spread in the adapted areas are not excluded.