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
Revision of
Moniligaster ivaniosi
Manazhy, 2011
Almost all species of
Moniligaster
, the three new species included, are restricted to a small area in the southern part of peninsular
India
. A notable exception is
Moniligaster ivaniosi
Manazhy, 2011
, recently described from the Andaman Islands, outside the currently known distributional range of the genus. To assess the taxonomic status of this species, which expands the distribution range of
Moniligaster
considerably, we critically reviewed the original description and reinvestigated available type material, here the
holotype
. As a result,
M. ivaniosi
is considered a junior synonym of
Drawida nepalensis
Michaelsen, 1907
.