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 Moniligaster horsti Gates, 1940 Moniligaster horsti Gates, 1940: 506 . Brief description. Colour bluish to brownish. Dimensions: 118–206 mm by 8 mm , segments 189–191. Spermathecal pores large transverse slits, slightly median to c , at intersegmental furrow 7/8. Male pores paired, transverse slits, at about mid bc . Gizzards 4, in segments 14–18. Testis sacs in segment 10. Vas deferens coiled into a mass of hairpin loops, mass twice the size of testis sac; vas passes under longitudinal musculature before entering ental end of prostate; prostates ovoid, capsule ovoidal to anvil-shaped. Spermathecal atrial glands in segments 7 and 8, duct of each atrial gland about one fourth the length of common atrial duct, which is longitudinally placed and partially buried in parietes. Material examined. 21 specimens altogether. 1 clitellate and 1 aclitellate ( ACESSD /EW/687), evergreen forest, Karimalagopuram in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve ( 10°21’48”N 76°45’9.3”E ), Palakkad District , Kerala , India , 2 August 2016 ,1153 m a.s.l., S.P. Narayanan , T . Augustine and S. Sathrumithra ; 1 aclitellate ( ACESSD /EW/707), evergreen forest, Moothassery tribal settlement near Mankulam ( 10°6’38.1”N 76°54’12.4”E ), Idukki District , Kerala , India , 25 October 2011 , 860 m a.s.l., J. R . Thomas and T . Augustine; 1 aclitellate ( ACESSD /EW/708), disturbed evergreen forest, Ozhuvathadam ( 10°03’12.2”N 76°50’52.0”E ), Idukki District , Kerala , India , 29 August 2016 , 1776 m a.s.l., S.P. Narayanan and S. Sathrumithra ; 16 aclitellates ( ACESSD /EW/711), shola forest, on the way to Bander (=Vanderavu) in Pampadum Shola National Park ( 10°8’8.5”N , 77°16’10.4”E ), Idukki District , Kerala , India , 27 May 2013 , 2270 m a.s.l., S.P. Narayanan , A. Sasi , S. Sathrumithra and T . Augustine; 1clitellate ( ACESSD / EW/712), shola forest, Mannavanchola in Anamudi Shola National Park ( 10°10’40.16”N , 77°11’18.01”E ), Idukki District , Kerala , India , 14 January 2017 , 2175 m a.s.l., A.K. Vijayan , B. Balachandran , A. Sasi and M. Mohan . Distribution. India : Kerala State : Palakkad District: Karimalagopuram in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve; Idukki District: Moothassery, Ozhuvathadam, Pampadum Shola National Park (all present records) ( Fig. 4 ). Elsewhere. Bungitappal in Tamil Nadu ( Gates 1940 ). Remarks. One specimen had six regenerated posterior segments. The species is recorded for the first time from Kerala . It was previously known only from Tamil Nadu ( Gates 1940 ). In Kerala , it is confined to the higher altitude evergreen and shola forests in Idukki and Palakkad districts.