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. Subedi, H.P., R.M. Saxena and J.W. Reynolds. 2018. New record of an in the family Glossoscolecidae (Annelida: ) from Sikkim, India. Megadrilogica 23(2): 51-5...

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MEGADRILOGICA Volume 23, Number 2, January 2018

NEW RECORD OF AN EARTHWORM IN THE FAMILY GLOSSOSCOLECIDAE (ANNELIDA: OLIGOCHAETA) FROM SIKKIM, INDIA.

Hem Prasad Subedi 1, R.M. Saxena 2 and John Warren Reynolds 3 1 Research scholar, Department of Zoology, D.A.V (PG) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, and PGT (Biology), Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Temi, South Sikkim, India (e-mail: [email protected]) 2 Former Head, Department of Zoology, D.A.V. (PG) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. 3 Oligochaetology Laboratory, 1250 Weber Street East, Unit 9, Kitchener, ON Canada N2A 4E1, and Research Associate, New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, NB Canada E2K 1E5 (e-mail: [email protected])

ABSTRACT

Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) in the family Glossoscolecidae has been recorded for the first time from Sikkim. The specimens were collected from different habitats at several altitudinal zones of the study area. The illustrations along with coloured photographic descriptions are provided.

Key words: India, Sikkim, Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae, corethrurus, new distribution record, colour photographs. RÉSUMÉ

Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857), appurtenant à la famille Glossoscolecidae, a été répertorié pour la première fois au Sikkim. Les spécimens ont été obtenus dans différents habitats de plusieurs zones altitudinales pour la région étudiée. Des illustrations incluant la description photographique sont fournies.

Mots-clés: Inde, Sikkim, Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae, Pontoscolex corethrurus, nouveau record de réparation, illustrations couleurs. RESUMEN

Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) de la familia Glossoscolecidae se ha registrado por primera vez en Sikkim. Los especímenes se obtuvieron de diferentes hábitats en varias zonas altitudinales del área de estudio. Se proporcionan ilustraciones junto con la descripción fotográfica. Palabras clave: India, Sikkim, Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae, Pontoscolex corethrurus, nuevo registro de d distribución, fotografías en color.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) in der Familie Glossoscolecidae wurde erstmals aus Sikkim vermeldet. Die Exemplare wurden in verschiedenen Lebensräumen in mehreren Höhenzonen des Untersuchungsgebietes gesammelt. Fotografien zur charakteristischen Morphologie von P. corethrurus sind im Anhang zu finden.

Schlüsselworte: Indien, Sikkim, Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae, Pontoscolex corethrurus, neuer Verbreitung- seintrag, Farbfotografien. सार लोसोइकोलसीढे परवारको पोतोइकोलेस ् कोररु स ् Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) जातीको गडेउला (गनउे ला) को अितव समबाट थमपट रेकड गरएको छ। गडेउलाको नमूनाह अनसु ंधानय ेमा समु तटदेखी बभ ऊचाईका ाकृ तक नवासहबाट सङकलन ् गरएको थयो। उ गडेउलाको ववरण रंगीन िचका साथमा उतृ गरएको छ।

बीज शद- भारत, सम, ओलगोकटा, लोसोइकोलसीढे, पोतोइकोलेस ् कोररु स,् नव बतरणीय रेकड, रंगीन िच। 52 A New Earthworm Records from Sikkim, India

INTRODUCTION rows, but enlarged and located in alternate positions on adjacent segments in the posterior region (Appendix, Sikkim, a small state in northeast India, is Fig. 4). Dorsal pore absent. Nephropores are one pair located at 27E05' N to 28E09' N latitude and 87E59' E per segment, distinct and located at the lateral side of to 88E56' E longitude, an area of biodiversity the body (Appendix, Fig. 1). Spermathecae considered a "hotspot" of the country (Fig. 1). It adiverticulate (Appendix, Fig. 10). Prostate absent. borders China in the north and east, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west and the Indian state of West Bengal Genus Pontoscolex Schmarda, 1861 in the south. Sikkim is also located close to the Siliguri Corridor near Bangladesh. The state has been 1861 Pontoscolex Schmarda, Neue wirbellose Thiere, investigated for earthworm diversity by Stephenson Leipzig 1, 2: 11. (1923), Gates (1945, 1972), Julka and Halder (1977), Type : Lumbricus corethrurus Müller, 1857 Soota and Halder (1977, 1981) and Halder (2003). (Reynolds and Wetzel, 2018). These researchers presented a detailed account of the diversity and distribution patterns of in the Diagnosis: Male pores and tubercula pubertatis in the state. This current extensive faunistic survey of clitellar region. Prostate glands are absent. Digestive earthworms in Sikkim revealed the presence of system with the pairs of solid calciferous glands in Pontoscolex corethrurus in the family Glosso- segments 7th to 10th (Appendix, Fig. 5). Unpigmented. scolecidae. This species constitutes a new record from this state. Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) (Appendix, Figs. 1-10) 1856 Lumbricus corethrurus Müller, Abh. Naturg. Ges. Halle 4: 26. (footnote only) 1857 Lumbricus corethrurus Müller, Arch. Natg. 23(1): 113-116. (actual description) 1970 Pontoscolex corethrurus Soota et Julka, Proc. Zool. Soc Calcutta 23: 205. 1972 Pontoscolex corethrurus Gates, Trans. American Phil. Soc. 62(7): 54.

Diagnosis: Body pale (unpigmented), light pink in the head region. Body cylindrical, length 53-112mm; diameter 2-5mm. Total number of body segments 90- 176. Prostomium lacking, first segment and snout often Fig. 1. The location of Sikkim, India. elongated as a long thin proboscis when the worm is exploring the area. Clitellum saddle-shaped, generally MATERIAL AND METHODS covering segments 15-22 (Appendix, Figs. 1 and 3). A survey of earthworm fauna was conducted Dorsal pores absent. Male pores and spermathecal between February 2008 and June 2009, covering pores inconspicuous. Female pore, single, a transverse different altitudinal zones ranging from 300m to slit at left side of mid-ventral line, just in front of 2100m. The specimens were collected, preserved and intersegmental furrow 14/15. Setae closely paired in examined following the method adopted by Halder segments 1-2, becoming wider until the quincunx (2003). Brinkhurst and Jamieson's (1971) classification arrangement in caudal region (see Gates and Reynolds, of Oligochaeta as modified by Sims (1980, 1982) and 2017). Genital marking not prominent. Nephropores adopted by Julka (1988) was followed. are prominent and located at lateral side of the body (Appendix, Fig. 1). Septa all present at least from 5/6 inter- Family GLOSSOSCOLECIDAE Michaelsen, 1900 segmental furrow. Gizzard bulbous located in between 1900 Glossoscolecidae Michaelsen, Das Tierreich 10: 6th-10th segments. Calciferous glands are paired and 420. solid (Appendix, Fig. 5). Last pair of hearts in segment 11 (Appendix, Fig. 8). Intestine originates at 14/15 Diagnosis: Setae (lumbricine), eight per segment segment. Typhlosole simple and lamelliform type throughout the body which are arranged in regular (Appendix, Fig. 7). Intestinal caeca and supra- MEGADRILOGICA 53 intestinal gland are lacking. Male funnels large, land and sawdust. Although the survey was conducted seminal vesicle one pair in 12th segment extending back between 300–2100m, Pontoscolex corethrurus was not up to 8-10 segments (Appendix, Fig. 8). Spermatheca recorded above 1270m. three pairs at 6/7-8/9 which are club-shaped with a long With the recording of Pontoscolex core- slender ducts (Appendix, Figs. 6 and 10). Holonephric thrurus, the total number of earthworm families in the (Appendix, Fig. 9). state of Sikkim is seven. Material examined: East Sikkim, 32 mile, grassland, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS altitude 750m, 10th February 2008; East Sikkim, Ralap, in drainage area from kitchen, altitude 600m, 4th April We are grateful to Wilma M. Reynolds of the 2008; East Sikkim, Ralap, Lower Barbing, fresh Oligochaetology Laboratory and Dr. Josef H. Görres of cowdung, altitude 1097m, 6th May 2008; South the University of Vermont for reviewing the Sikkim, Temi Tarku, cultivated land, altitude 1270m, manuscript, their comments and suggestions. The 23rd May 2008; East Sikkim, Bagey Khola, in sawdust, senior author is indebted to Dr. J.M. Julka, Solan (HP) altitude 300m, 2nd June 2008; total number of India for encouragement and providing training for specimens for all sites 30 clitellate and 10 non- identifications of the earthworms. Thanks are due to clitellate, coll. H.P. Subedi. Dr. Sam James, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, Kansas, U.S.A. for DISCUSSION providing valuable suggestions. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Catalina C. de Mischis, Universidad To date, six families of earthworms have been Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina), Dr. Jean-Marc reported from Sikkim: Megascolecidae – Stephenson Gagnon, Canadian Museum of Nature, and Dr. Josef H. (1923), Acanthodrilidae – Gates (1945), Lumbricidae – Görres, University of Vermont for translations of the Julka and Halder (1977), Moniligastridae and abstracts and key words. Octochaetidae – Soota and Halder (1981) and Ocnerodrilidae – Halder (2003). LITERATURE CITED

Although the centre of origin is now believed Brinkhurst, R.O. and B.G.M. Jamieson. 1971. Aquatic to be in the American tropics, Pontoscolex corethrurus Oligochaeta of the world. Edinburgh: Oliver is now widely distributed as a pantropical species, and Boyd, xi + 860 pp. probably due to human transportation, either accidentally or deliberately (Gates, 1973). Gates, G.E. 1945. On some Indian earthworms. II. Reproduction is parthenogenetic, which accounts for Journal Roy. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 11: 54-91. the widespread distribution. Even if copulation is observed, it is no guarantee that reproduction is Gates, G.E. 1972. Burmese earthworms. An biparental (amphimictic) (Gates, 1973; Reynolds, introduction to systematics and biology of 1974). Gates (1973) reported it from several Central megadrile oligochaetes with special reference and South American countries, several Carribean to Southeast Asia. Trans. American Phil. Soc. islands, Florida and Hawaii (USA), and southeast Asia 62(7): 1-326. (Philippines, Java, French Polynesia). Reynolds and Reinecke (1977) collected it in Kruger National Park, Gates, G.E. 1973. Contributions to a revision of the South Africa. Reynolds and Righi (1994) recorded it earthworm family Glossoscolecidae. I. from Belize, C.A. Reynolds et al. (1995) collected it in Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857). Bull. Bangladesh. Tall Timbers Res. Stn. No. 14: 1-12.

In India, Pontoscolex corethrurus has been Gates, G.E., The late and J.W. Reynolds. 2017. reported from West Bengal (Gates, 1972), Andaman Preliminary Key to North American and Nicobar Island (Gates, 1973), Andhra Pradesh, Megadriles (Annelida, Oligochaeta), based on Gujarat, Karnataka (Siddaraju et al., 2010), Kerala external characters, insofar as possible. (Nair et al., 2007), Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Megadrilogica 22(10): 201-219. (Halder, 2003; Kathireswari et al., 2005). In Sikkim, this species is distributed from altitudes ranging from Halder, K.R. 2003. Oligochaeta: Earthworm. State 300m to 1270m in different habitats such as grassland, Fauna Series: Fauna of Sikkim, Part. 5: 91- water flowing from kitchen outlet, cow dung, cultivated 116. 54 A New Earthworm Records from Sikkim, India

Halder, K.R. 1998. : Oligochaeta: Earthworm. Reynolds, J.W. and M.J. Wetzel. 2018. Nomenclatura State Fauna Series: Fauna of West Bengal, Oligochaetologica – A catalogue of names, Part. 10: 17-93. descriptions and type specimens. Editio Secunda. Julka, J.M. 1988. Fauna of India. Megadrile URL: http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/people/ Oligochaeta (Earthworms) Family Octochaet- mjwetzel/nomenoligo (accessed: 15 Jan idae. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, xiv 2018). + 400 pp. Julka, J.M. and K.R. Halder 1977. New records of Reynolds, J.W., J.M. Julka and M.N. Khan. 1995. earthworms (Oligochaeta : Lumbricidae) from Additional earthworm records from Bangla- Sikkim. Newsl. Zool. Surv. India 3: 296-297. desh (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae, Mega- scolecidae, Moniligastridae, Ocnerodrilidae Kathireswari, P., J.M. Julka and J.W. Reynolds. 2005. and Octochaetidae). Megadrilogica 6(6): 51- Checklist of Oligochaeta of Tamil Nadu, 60. India. Megdrilogica 10(8): 57-68. Michaelsen, W. 1897. Terricolenfauna Ceylons. Jb. Schmarda, L.K. 1961. Oligochaeta. In: Leipzig: Neue hamb. Wiss. Anst. 14(2): 159-250. wirbellose Thiere beobachtet und gesammelt auf einer Reise um die Erde, 2: 7-14. Michaelsen, W. 1900. Oligochaeta. Lief. 10. In: Das Tierreich. Berlin, Friedländer, xxix + 575 pp. Siddaraju, M., K.S. Sreepada and J.W. Reynolds. Müller, Fr. 1856. Lumbricus corethrurus. Being a 2010. Checklist of earthworms (Annelida: footnote on pp. 26-27 of Schultze, M. (1856). Oligochaeta) from Dakshina Kannada, Abh. Naturg. Ges. Halle 4: 26. Karnataka South West India. Megadrilogica 14(5): 65-75. Müller, Fr. 1857. Lumbricus corethrurus, Bürsten- schwanz. Arch. Natg. 23(1): 113-116. [Ponto- Sims, R.W. 1980. A classification and the distribution scolex corethrurus n. sp.] of earthworms, suborder Lumbricina (Haplo- Nair, K.V., J. Manazhy, A. Manazhy and J.W. taxida: Oligochaeta). Bull. British Mus. Nat. Reynolds. 2007. Earthworm fauna of Kerala, Hist. (Zool.) 39(2): 103-124. India: 1: Some species from Thiruvanan- apuram Corporation. Megadrilogica 11(8): Sims, R. 1982. Moniligastrida, Alluroidina and 85-90. Lumbricina. In: Parker, S.P. Synopsis and Classification of living organisms. New York: Reynolds, J.W. 1974. Are oligochaetes really herma- McGraw-Hill Book Co., 2: 1232 pp. phroditic amphimictic organisms? Biologist 56(2): 90-99. Soota, T.D. and K.R. Halder. 1977. Two species of Reynolds, J.W. and A.J. Reinecke. 1977. A the genus Amyanthas (Oligochaeta: Mega- preliminary survey of the earthworms of the scolecidae) from Sikkim. Newsl. Zool. Surv. Kruger National Park, South Africa (Oligo- India 3(4): 150-151. chaeta: Glossoscolecidae, Megascolecidae and Octochaetidae). Wet. Bydraes, P.U. vir Soota, T.D. and K.R. Halder. 1981. On some earth- C.H.O. (B), No. 89, 19 pp. worms from eastern Himalayas. Rec. Zool. Surv. India 79: 231-234. Reynolds, J.W. and G. Righi. 1994. On some earthworms from the Belize C.A. with the Stephenson, J. 1923. Oligochaeta. The fauna of description of a new species (Oligochaeta: British India including Ceylon and Burma. Acanthodrilidae, Glossoscolecidae and Octo- London: Taylor and Francis Ltd. xxiv + chaetidae). Megadrilogica 5(9): 97-106. 581pp. MEGADRILOGICA 55

APPENDIX Pontoscolex corethrurus showing: Fig. 1: Entire body, Fig. 2: Anterior portion, Fig. 3: Clitellum, Fig. 4: Arrangement of setae in posterior region, Fig. 5: Extramural calciferous gland, Fig. 6: Position of spermathecae, Fig. 7: Typhlosole, Fig. 8: Taxonomically important internal organs, Fig. 9: Nephridia, Fig. 10: Spermatheca.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Fig. 9

Fig. 8

Fig. 10 56 A New Earthworm Records from Sikkim, India

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