Notoscolex striatus Stephenson, 1914

Kharkongor, Ilona J., 2018, Taxonomic and ecological studies on the earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 118 (1), pp. 56-56 : 56-

8. Notoscolex striatus Stephenson, 1914

1914. Notoscolex striatus, Stephenson, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 8: 380.

Material examined: 1 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/NERC-10. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Nongstoiñ- Siejlieh , N 25 o 31’47.8”; E 91 o 15’13.0”; Alt. 1324m, 26.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party ; 3 ex. Regn. No. IV / ANN/NERC-22. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawthar village, near Puiñsneiñ stream, N 25 o 28’05.0”; E 91 o 15’39.0”; Alt. 1407m, 24.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party.

Diagnosis: Length 199-210 mm. segments 290-297, the 4 and 5 biannulate, the rest triannulate. Prostomium prolobic. Lumbricine. First dorsal pore in 9/10. Spermathecal pores minute, in 6/7/8. Clitellum 13-15. Female pores paired in 13. Male pores in the grooves on 17. Genital area from mid-16 to 18, somewhat rectangular in shape with a depressed centre and longitudinal grooves in the area.

Septa 6/7-10/11 thickened. Gizzard in 6. Intestines from 14. Ovaries in 12. Testis in 9 and 10. Seminal vesicles in 10,11 and 12.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (WKHD), Arunachal Pradesh. Elsewhere: Not known.

Remarks: Stephenson (1923) has mentioned “Rotung and Renging, Abor Country, Eastern Himalayas” as the distribution range of this species. This is also an endogeic-polyhumic species inhabiting the soil surface up to the root mat layer, and feeding on organic matter in the soil.