Moniligaster Perrier, 1872

Narayanan, S. Prasanth, Sathrumithra, S., Anuja, R., Christopher, G., Thomas, A. P. & Julka, J. M., 2021, Three new species and four new species records of earthworms of the genus Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Moniligastridae) from Kerala region of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India, Zootaxa 4949 (2), pp. 381-397 : 395

Key to currently accepted species of Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 (modified from Gates, 1940)

1 Vas deferens penetrates longitudinal muscle layer prior to junction with prostate................................... 2

- Vas deferens enters prostate directly, without penetrating longitudinal muscle layer................................. 4

2 Prostatic capsule anvil shaped........................................................... M. horsti Gates, 1940

- Prostatic capsule different.............................................................................. 3

3 Body length> 400 mm; prostatic capsule spheroidal......................................... M. aiyeri Gates, 1940

- Body length <200 mm; prostatic capsule disc-like and latero-mesially flattened.............. M. stephensoni Gates, 1940

4 Spermathecal atrial glands confined to segment 7............................................................ 5

- Spermathecal atrial glands in segments 7 and 8............................................................. 10

5 Leaflet-like glands present on vas deferens............................................ M. deshayesi Perrier, 1872

- Leaflet-like glands absent on vas deferens.................................................................. 6

6 Vas deferens joins prostate at or close to ental end........................................................... 7

- Vas deferens joins prostate at or close to ectal end........................................................... 9

7 Prostatic capsule with deep incisions on margins..................................... M. gravelyi Stephenson, 1915

- Prostatic capsule without marginal incisions................................................................ 8

8 Prostatic capsule tubular, ental end slightly sinuous and nodulated.................................. M. bahli sp. nov.

- Prostatic capsule club-shaped, ental end without nodulations................................. M. blakemorei sp. nov.

9 Prostates clavate, duct of each atrial gland short, about ¼ the length of common atrial duct........ M. troyi Jamieson, 1977

- Prostates tubular, duct of each atrial gland about as long as commonatrial duct.................... M. keralensis sp. nov.

10 Prostate and duct bound to body wall in a C-shaped figure, capsule ovoidal.................. M. michaelseni Gates, 1940

- Prostate and duct not bound to body wall, capsule shape otherwise............................................. 11

11 Prostatic capsule reniform, without nodulations...................................... M. perrieri Michaelsen, 1907

- Prostatic capsule short, tubular and U-shaped, with irregularly placed nodulations............. M. cernosvitovi Gates, 1962