ADDITIONAL NEW RECORD OF EARTHWORMS BELONGING TO FAMILY OCTOCHAETIDAE FROM CHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU REGION OF JHARKHAND

Abstract

Four species of earthworms belonging to family Octochaetidae (Haplotaxida : Oligochaeta) namely Lennogaster pusillus   Stephenson, Dichogaster bolaui  Gates, Octochaetona  surensis  Michaelsen, Eutyphoeus waltoni Michaelsen have been collected from different areas of Chhotanagpur plateau of Jharkhand and have been identified and described. Out of the four one species (Dichogaster bolaui) is peregrine while rest three are native species. Two species  namely  Dichogaster bolaui  and Lennogaster pusillus   are epigeic while remaining  two are endogeic. Occurrence of more native species indicates that the different land use patterns have not affected much the habitat of the earthworms from where they have bbeen sampled.