Drawida rosea Stephenson, 1922

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-

30. Drawida rosea Stephenson, 1922

1922. Drawida rosea Stephenson, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 24: 430.

Material examined: 2 ex. Regn. No. IV/ANN/NERC-66. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Nongstoiñ, Nondeiñ , Soil Conservation Department IB compound, N25 o 31’34.7”; E91 o 15’38.7”; Alt. 1356 m, 26.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party .

Diagnosis: Length 99-102 mm. Segments 145-149. Prolobic. Lumbricine. Vestiges of dorsal pores visible in the middle region of the body. Male pores on transversely elongated papillae at the hinder border of 10; a pair of smaller, rounder papillae on the anterior border of 11, i mmediately behind the papillae of the male pores. Mid-ventral region between these four papillae depressed and darker in colour. Female pores minute in 11/12. Spermathecal pores conspicuous in 7/8.

Septa 5/6/7/8/9 much thickened. Four gizzards in 13- 16. Testis sacs in 10, reaching to septum 10/11. Ovisacs extend back to 13/14.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (EKHD, WKHD).

Remarks: The species is, probably, endemic to Meghalaya. It was earlier reported from EKHD; it is now recorded from WKHD also. This is an endogeic- polyhumic species occupying the surface to root zone soil layer. It feeds on soft, moist soil with high organic content such as those found around forests.