Polypheretima elongata (Perrier, 1872)

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-

5. Polypheretima elongata (Perrier, 1872)

1872. Perichaeta elongata Perrier, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris , 8: 124.

1959. Pheretima elongata : Gates, Bull. Mus. Comp. zool., Harvard, 123: 9.

Material examined: 7 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/NERC-03. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Nongkhnum-Lailad , N 25 o 26’25.8”; E 91 o 16’01.4”; Alt. 1377m, 24.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party ; 1 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/ NERC-18. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Nongstoiñ, Mawlongphlang (near JNV), N 25 o 30’32.4”; E 91 o 14’23.5”; Alt. 1379m, 26.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party .

Diagnosis: Length 75-300 mm. Segments 136-297. Prostomium prolobous or epilobous. Perichaetine. First dorsal pore 12-13 or 13/14. Spermathecal pores absent. Clitellum 14-16, annular, without dorsal pores but setae maybe present ventrally. Female pore single, mid-ventral in 14. Male pores paired in 18, on raised porophores. Large, raised, pre-setal genital papillae paired in 19-23 or 24.

Septa 8/9/10 absent. Gizzard in 9. Intestine from 15, intestinal caeca absent. Spermathecae absent. Ovaries paired in 13. Two pairs of testis sacs in 10 and 11. Seminal vesicles in 11 and 12.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (WKHD). Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Elsewhere: Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Caribbean, Caroline Islands & Hawaii, India, Madagascar, Myanmar, New guinea, New Caledonia, Pakistan, Papau, Philippines, South and Central America, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

Remarks: This is another peregrine species recorded for the first time from Meghalaya. It is classified as a mesohumic endogeic species, living and feeding on the upper 0-20 cm soil strata.