Illustrations of earthworms occuring in and around Chennai, India

Abstract

Earthworms were collected from Chennai and its environs for taxonomic listing and to prepare a brief guide for identification by budding vermiculturists. Earthworm species were identified using existing taxonomic keys. Drawida scandens, Lampito mauritii, Perionyx excavatus, Perionyx sansibaricus, Octochaetona barnesi, Octochaetona pattoni, Octochaetona serrata, Octochaetona thurstoni, Dichogaster bolaui and Eudrilus eugeniae have been recorded. D. bolaui was the smallest while O. thurstoni was the largest species in size observed. Fully mature adults of the common species collected over a period of time from sites in and around Chennai are illustrated. Among the species, Eudrilus eugeniae does not occur naturally and are procured from external sources for vermicomposting units.