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 Author Narayanan, S. Prasanth Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Sathrumithra, S. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Anuja, R. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Christopher, G. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Thomas, A. P. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Julka, J. M. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan- 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India text Zootaxa 2021 2021-03-25 4949 2 381 397 journal article 7489 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.2.11 e874c6d1-463e-48b3-8d44-2c45ef752a2b 1175-5326 4636238 C792D613-C435-4BC8-8EF7-150427B0D5C4 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