Microchaetus vernoni Plisko, 1992

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2003, Eleven new South African earthworms (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) with new information on some known species, and an inventory of the microchaetids of KwaZulu-Natal, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 279-325 : 292

Microchaetus vernoni Plisko, 1992

Microchaetus vernoni Plisko, 1992: 349 ; Reynolds & Cook 1993: 22; 1998: 292.

Remarks: The longest microchaetid species recorded from South Africa, being in life over 2 meters long. Excreted casts are large, up to 240 mm in height and are recognised as good fertilisation for the soil (Plisko 1992). The species is known only from Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve ( Fig. 1 ) and it was not found in neighbouring sugarcane plantations. Probably the reserve is the only relict of its natural habitat, a valuable oasis protecting this species from extinction. Associated with M. zaloumisi at some sites.

Figures

Fig. 1. The distribution of species of Microchaetus and Michalakus in KZN. Microchaetus: 1 = ambitus; 2 = caementerii; 3 = distasmosus; 4 = griphus; 5 = herberti; 6 = idechoritus; 7 = mkuzi; 8 = natalensis; 9 = papillatus; 10 = parvus; 11 = pondoanus; 12 = quaerus; 13 = tuberosus; 14 = vernoni; 15 = zaloumisi; 16 = Michalakus initus.