Octolasion lacteum ( Örley, 1881 )

Valchovski, Hristo, 2016, Earthworm (Clitellata: Lumbricidae) records from the Rila Mountains (Bulgaria), ZooNotes 100, pp. 1-4 : 3

Octolasion lacteum ( Örley, 1881)

Material examined. Bulgaria: Kirilova polyana, near a brook in coniferous forest, 1485 m, 42 о 09' 16''N 23 о 24' 07''E, 21.05.2016, 3 ex. (H. Valchovski leg.) ( PCHV/78 ); Bulgaria: Rila Monastery, decidous forest, 1275 m, 42 о 08' 43''N 23 о 21' 49''E, 21.05.2016, 2 ex., (H. Valchovski leg.) ( PCHV/77 ) .

Two taxa are found for the first time in the explored region. Aporrectodea handlirschi ( Rosa, 1897) and Aporrectodea caliginosa ( Savigny, 1826) are proved to be new records for Rila Mountains. The Trans-Aegean Aporrectodea handlirschi is distributed in the southern parts of Bulgaria, so its presence in the Rila Mountains is not surprising. Also one of the most common peregrine species Aporrectodea caliginosa is recorded form the lower parts of the explored region.

According to the current study and literature data 23 earthworm species and subspecies are registered on the territory of the Rila Mountains, which is almost half of the earthworm diversity in Bulgaria ( Valchovski 2012). Considering the zoogeographical distribution types, the lumbricid fauna of the Rila Mountains is dominated by peregrine species (11 taxa = 47.82%), followed by endemic (4 taxa = 17.39%) and Balkanic-Alpine species (3 taxa = 13.04%). Central-European, Trans-Aegean, Mediterranean, Holarctic and Palearctic earthworms take part with 1-1 taxon (4.34%).