Eutyphoeus festivus Gates, 1938

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-

25. Eutyphoeus festivus Gates, 1938

1938. Eutyphoeus festivus Gates, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 40: 71.

Material examined: 1 ex. Regn. No. IV/ANN/NERC-23. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawthar village, near Puiñsneiñ stream, N25 o 28’05.0”; E91 o 15’39.0”; Alt. 1407 m, 24.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party; 4 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/NERC-51. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawthadraishan Peak area , N25 o 32’16.9”; E91 o 27’14.8”; Alt. 1933 m; 25.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party .

Diagnosis: Length 85-235 mm. Segments 124-271. Lumbricine. Prolobic. Dorsal pore from 10/11. Clitellum 13 or posterior half of 13 to 17 or 18. Female pore paired presetal, in 14. Male pores in fissures on small, paired porophores in 17. Spermathecal pores as small transverse slits in 7/8. Genital markings unpaired, median on 19/20, occasionally in 18/19 or 20/21 or 22/23/24.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (RBD, EKHD, WKHD).

Remarks: Apparently,this species is endemic to Meghalaya, being recorded from Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills region of the State. This endo-anecic species of soil feeding earthworms are found to inhabit upper 0 - 20 cm soil and feed on soils in the 0 – 10 cm strata.