Opusc. Zool. Budapes , 2025, 56(3): 97–109
u n: lsid:zoobank.o g:pub:692C0B58-DD94-4A96-B426-C542F0F70244 published: 30 Sep embe 2025
HU ISSN 2063-1588 (online) h ps://doi.o g/10.18348/opzool.2025.3.97
D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m (Cli ella a,
Moniligas idae) om he Wes e n Gha s o India
S. PRASANTH NARAYANAN1*, R. PALIWAL2, V.P. SYLAS3, A.P. THOMAS4 & J.M. JULKA5
1Sasankan P asan h Na ayanan, Ad anced Cen e o En i onmen al S udies and Sus ainable De elopmen ,
Maha ma Gandhi Uni e si y, P iyada sini Hills, Ko ayam – 686560, Ke ala, India. E-mail:
[email p o ec ed]; h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0002-7765-9570. *Co esponding au ho
2Rahul Paliwal, House No 77/62, Mansa o a , Jaipu – 302020, Rajas han, India.
h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0002-6531-7303
3Va iye el Paulose Sylas, School o En i onmen al Sciences, Maha ma Gandhi Uni e si y, P iyada sini Hills,
Ko ayam – 686560, Ke ala, India & Ad anced Cen e o En i onmen al S udies and Sus ainable De e-
lopmen , Maha ma Gandhi Uni e si y, P iyada sini Hills, Ko ayam – 686560, Ke ala, India.
h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0003-2342-7720
4Amba u Paili Thomas, Ad anced Cen e o En i onmen al S udies and Sus ainable De elopmen , Maha ma
Gandhi Uni e si y, P iyada sini Hills, Ko ayam – 686560, Ke ala, India.
h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0002-8815-2759
5Ja inde Mohan Julka, School o Biological and En i onmen al Sciences, Facul y o Basic Sciences, Shoolini
Uni e si y, Solan –173 212, Himachal P adesh, India. h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0002-8787-2447
Abs ac . A new moniligas id ea hwo m D awida ka a ala Na ayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. no ., is desc ibed based on
specimens collec ed om he Wes e n Gha s biodi e si y ho spo in Sou h-wes e n India. I belongs o he Robus a species-
g oup, which is cha ac e ized by glandula p os a es and bilobed spe ma hecal a ia. Wi hin his g oup, wo subg oups a e
ecognized, one wi h dis inc ly bilobed a ium (Robus a subg oup) and he o he wi h sligh ly bilobed a ium (Cochinensis
subg oup). The new species belongs o he Robus a subg oup, wi h dis inc ly bilobed a ium. In addi ion o he new species
desc ibed he e, congene s o he Robus a subg oup a e, D. obus a obus a (Bou ne, 1886), D. obus a ophidioides (Bou ne,
1894), D. soma a pa ana Rao, 1921, D. homasi Na ayanan & Julka, 2017 and D. paliwali Na ayanan, 2024. D. ka a ala sp.
no ., can easily be di e en ia ed om he all he membe s o he Robus a g oup by he shape o he spe ma hecal a ium,
which supe icially esembles he human palm, and he shape o he p os a ic capsule, which is an il-like wi h nodula ions.
The p esen wo k p o ides de ailed desc ip ion o he new species suppo ed wi h images and illus a ions o he key
cha ac e s. A key o he Robus a species-g oup is p o ided. Wi h he addi ion o he new species, a o al o 81 D awida
species a e known om India.
Keywo ds. Annelida, biodi e si y ho spo , endemic, Kasa agod, Ke ala, Oligochae a.
INTRODUCTION
ndia is one among he mos ea hwo m species
ich na ions o he wo ld (Na ayanan e al.
2023a). A conside able numbe o new ea h-
wo m species ha e been desc ibed o epo ed
om India in he las decade (Na ayanan e al.
2017, 2019a, 2021a, 2022, 2024a, 2025a, b, c,
Ahmed e al. 2022, 2023a, b, 2025, Hasan e al.
2024, Tiwa i e al. 2024, 2025a, b, Rodingpuia e
al. 2024, Naik e al. 2024, e c.). Mos o hese
new species desc ibed belong o he amily Mega-
scolecidae (Ahmed e al. 2022, Naik e al. 2024,
Na ayanan e al. 2024b, 2025a, c, e c.), ollowed
by Moniligas idae (Na ayanan e al. 2017,
2021a, 2022, 2024c, 2025b; Tiwa i e al. 2025c)
and Acan hod ilidae (Tiwa i e al. 2021, Ahmed
e al. 2023a, b, 2025, Rodingpuia e al. 2024).
Among ea hwo ms, he amily Moniligas idae
Claus, 1880, is conside ed as he mos a chaic
I
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
98
(Na ayanan e al. 2024d), which comp ising 185
species ac oss i e gene a (Na ayanan e al. 2024c,
d, 2025b, Liu e al. 2025, Tiwa i e al. 2025c).
Acco ding o James and Da idson (2012) i is a
sis e g oup o he ea hwo ms o he o de C as-
sicli ella a Jamieson, 1988. Moniligas id ea h-
wo ms mainly inhabi he opical O ien al (Indo-
malayan) egion (Shekho s o e al. 2022) wi h a
numbe o species om he sub opical and
empe a e zones o eas e n Palaeac ic (Na ayanan
e al. 2024d).
Wi h 155 species (Na ayanan e al. 2024c, d,
2025d, Liu e al. 2025; Tiwa i e al. 2025c),
D awida Michaelsen, 1900, is he mos speciose
genus wi hin he amily Moniligas idae (Jami-
eson 1977) and wi h 80 species eco ded o ms
he mos species- ich genus among he Indian
ea hwo ms (Na ayanan e al. 2023a, 2024c, d;
Tiwa i e al. 2025c). Acco ding o Ga es (1972)
and Na ayanan e al. (2024d) i s dis ibu ion is
almos equal o ha o i s amily dis ibu ion
ange.
Owing o se e al ac s, D awida is he mos
ema kable genus among he a ious membe s o
he Moniligas idae amily (Na ayanan e al.
2025d). Recen ly Na ayanan e al. (2024d) heo-
ized ha i s ange in Sou heas Asia begins wes
o he Wallace Line in he Malay A chipelago.
Wi hin India, his genus shows high le els o
di e si ica ion in he Indian peninsula, p edo-
minan ly in he Wes e n Gha s hill anges o
sou h-wes e n India (S ephenson 1923, Ga es
1945, Na ayanan e al. 2020, 2023a, 2024c, d, e).
The Wes e n Gha s-S i Lanka biodi e si y ho spo
is e y ich in ea hwo m species (Na ayanan e
al. 2020, 2021b, 2023a).
Na ayanan e al. (2025d) hypo hesized ha he
D awida species en e ed he Indian peninsula
h ough he no h-eas e n co ne o p esen day
India, du ing he Bu digalian age (ca. 16 Ma) in
he middle Miocene epoch and aken he Eas e n
Gha s-Eas coas ou e o colonise he Wes e n
Gha s moun ain anges. In he p esen cen u y,
ea hwo m axa o he Wes e n Gha s ha e been
ex ended wi h he desc ip ion o many new axa
and new species epo s (Julka e al. 2004,
Na ayanan e al. 2016a, 2017, 2019a, b, 2023b,
2025a, b, Anuja e al. 2020, e c.). This includes
en new moniligas ids (Na ayanan e al. 2017,
2021a, 2022, 2024c, 2025b), o hese i e a e o
D awida species.
He ein we desc ibe and illus a e a new
D awida species, namely, D. ka a ala sp. no .,
based on he specimens collec ed om he o es
o Ranipu am in he Wes e n Gha s o Kasa agod
Dis ic , which lies in he no he n po ion o
Ke ala S a e, sou h-wes e n India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ea hwo ms we e collec ed by digging he soil
wi h a spade and hand-so ing he soil o
ea hwo ms. Collec ed specimens we e ixed in
10% o malin, and la e ype specimens we e
ans e ed o 95% e hanol. All ele an mo -
phological and ana omical cha ac e iza ion o he
ea hwo ms was ca ied ou unde a Magnus MSZ
se ies s e eomic oscope. Illus a ions we e made
wi h he help o a came a lucida a ached o he
mic oscope. Colou images we e aken using a
Nikon SMZ800N s e eomic oscope. Images and
line d awings we e imp o ed using Adobe
Pho oshop. The ype specimens o he new spe-
cies we e deposi ed in he ‘Na ional Zoological
Collec ions’ o he Zoological Su ey o India –
Wes e n Gha s Regional Cen e, Kozhikode
(ZSIK), Ke ala S a e, India. Single o he ma e ial
is housed in he ea hwo m collec ion o he
Ad anced Cen e o En i onmen al S udies and
Sus ainable De elopmen (ACESSD), Maha ma
Gandhi Uni e si y, Ko ayam, Ke ala, India.
Ins i u ional abb e ia ions. ACESSD: Ad-
anced Cen e o En i onmen al S udies and
Sus ainable De elopmen , Maha ma Gandhi Uni-
e si y, Ko ayam, Ke ala, India; ZSIK: Zoolo-
gical Su ey o India, Wes e n Gha s Regional
Cen e, Kozhikode, India.
TAXONOMY
Class Cli ella a Michaelsen, 1919
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
99
O de Moniligas ida B inkhu s & Jamieson,
1971
Family Moniligas idae Claus, 1880
Genus D awida Michaelsen, 1900
Type species. Moniligas e ba welli Bedda d,
1886 (= D awida ba welli)
Dis ibu ion. Span om Sou h Asia (India,
Bangladesh, p obably in oduced o S i Lanka and
Nepal) o Indochina, Sou heas Asia (Bo neo,
Philippines, Suma a), Eas Asia (eas e n China,
Ko ean peninsula, Japan) ex ending as a as Fa
Eas e n Russia’s Amu Ri e lood plains (Na a-
yanan e al. 2024d, 2025d). Th ee pe eg ine spe-
cies, a ained ci cum opical dis ibu ion, which
has been epo ed om A ica, Ame icas, Aus-
alia, and Oceania (Kobayashi 1941, Ga es 1972,
Csuzdi 2005, Blakemo e 2012, Na ayanan e al.
2024d).
D awida ka a ala Na ayanan, Paliwal & Julka,
sp. no .
(Figu es 1A–B, 2A–F)
Ma e ial examined. Holo ype. Acli ella e
(ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.29371),
Ranipu am (12.4217°N, 75.3540°E), which lies
close o Ke ala-Ka ana aka s a e bo de , a ound 4
km sou h o Pana hu and 48 km eas o
Kanhangad own in Kasa agod Dis ic , Ke ala
S a e, India, 935 m a.s.l., e e g een o es , 12
Oc obe 2012, leg. S. P asan h Na ayanan, S.
Sa h umi h a and M. Ramesan. Pa a ypes. 1 acli-
ella e: same collec ion da a as o holo ype (ZSIK
Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.29372); 1 acli el-
la e (pos e io ly incomple e due o au o omy)
(ZSIK Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.29373), Ra-
nipu am (12.4182°N, 75.3512°E), Kasa agod
Dis ic , Ke ala S a e, India, hill op e e g een
o es , 17 Decembe 2013, leg. S. P asan h Na a-
yanan, S. Sa h umi h a and Dinu Ku iakose.
O he ma e ial. 1 acli ella e (pos e io ly in-
comple e) (ACESSD/EW/1947), Ranipu am, Kas-
a agod Dis ic , Ke ala S a e, India, shola–like
e e g een o es loo , 27 June 2016, leg. Rosh-
na h Ramesh and A jun C.P.
Diagnosis. D awida ka a ala sp. no . belongs
o he Robus a species g oup. Se ae p esen om
segmen 2, en al pai s la ge . Spe ma hecal a-
pe u es pai ed, in in e segmen al u ow 7/8, a-
ligned a c, o sligh ly median o c line. Seconda y
male ape u es pai ed in ans e se sli s, in in e -
segmen al u ow 10/11, a mid bc se al lines.
Gizza ds ou o six wi hin segmen s 16–21, cons-
an ly p esen on segmen s 16–19. Vas de e ens
slende , long, coiled in a ew loops a he base o
es is sac, en e he muscula u e o pa ie es, e-
eme ge o open a an e io ec al end o p os a e.
This species can easily be di e en ia ed om he
congene s o he Robus a species-g oup by he
shape o he spe ma hecal a ium, which is dis-
inc ly bilobed in segmen s 7 and 8, en al end o
a ium widened, closed human palm-like, su ace
w inkled, p os a e pos e io ly di ec ed an il-like,
and p os a ic capsule an il-like wi h nodula ions.
Desc ip ion. Ex e nal. Colou in li e, do sum
g eyish blue, en um pale; g eyish in p e-
se a ion. Body ci cula in c oss sec ion. Dimen-
sions: Holo ype: leng h 191 mm, wid h 6 mm a
segmen 9, segmen s 194; pa a ypes: specimen I –
leng h 192 mm, wid h 7 mm a segmen 9, seg-
men s 172; specimen II – leng h 94 mm, wid h 5
mm a segmen 9, segmen s 89 (pos e io po ion
missing); o he ma e ial: wid h 4.5 mm a segmen
9, segmen s 89 (pos e io po ion missing). Se ae
lumb icine, closely pai ed, en al pai s la ge ,
p esen om segmen 2; se al o mula
aa:ab:bc:cd:dd = 7.5:2:7:1:34 and 7.5:2:6:1:27 a
segmen 8; 9.5:1:7.5:1.25:30 and 9:1:9:1:39 a
segmen 20 (n = 2). P os omium p olobous.
Do sal po es absen . Cli ellum no ecognizable.
Spe ma hecal ape u es pai ed, in in e segmen al
u ow 7/8, aligned a c, o sligh ly median o c
line, concealed in u ow, wi h pucke ed lips in
segmen s 7 and 8 (Fig. 1A, B). Seconda y male
ape u es pai ed a mid bc, in ans e se sli s in
in e segmen al u ow 10/11 (Fig. 1A, B) wi h
pucke ed o i ices, umid lips an e io and
pos e io segmen s. Female po es minu e in
in e segmen al u ow 11/12 a b line o be ween
ab line close o b. Neph idiopo es isible om
in e segmen al u ow 4/5, in single line a c o
be ween cd, h oughou . Geni al ma kings absen .
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
100
Figu e 1. D awida ka a ala sp. no ., ex e nal cha ac e s: A – Image showing he an e io egion, en al iew; B – Illus a-
ion o he an e io egion, en al iew. Abb e ia ions. Sm – Seconda y male ape u e; Sp – Spe ma hecal po e.
In e nal. Bluish pigmen a ion in ci cula
muscle laye . Sep um 4/5 sligh ly muscula , sep a
5/6/7/8/9 muscula . Gizza ds ou o six, wi hin
segmen s 16–21, cons an ly p esen on segmen s
16–19, an e io one smalle ; in es ine o igin in
segmen 23±1. Las pai o hea s in segmen 9,
commissu es o ex a oesophageal essel on
pos e io ace o sep um 8/9 and 9/10 no
ecognizable. Tes is sacs pai ed, asymme ical,
o oid o sligh ly la ened wi h a long neck,
disloca ed o pos e io segmen s, ex ends in
segmen s 9–10, 11, 12, no cons ic ed by sep um;
as de e ens slende , long, coiled in a ew loops a
he base o es is sac, en e s he muscula u e o
pa ie es, e-eme ge o open a an e io ec al end o
glandula po ion o p os a e. P os a es pai ed,
glandula , in segmen s 11–12, e ec o sligh ly
slan ing la e ally, an il-like, pos e io ly di ec ed
gene ally (Fig. 2A, B); p os a ic capsule an il-
like, smoo h, single, double o iple nodula ed
su ace (Fig. 2C, D); p os a ic duc e ec , s ou ,
hick, sho e han he leng h o glandula po ion,
as de e ens en e ing a an e io ec al end o he
capsule. Spe ma hecal ampulla o oid, pai ed in
segmen 8; a ium dis inc ly bilobed, one lobe
each in segmen s 7 and 8, en al end o a ium
widened and w inkled, somewha supe icially
simila o closed human palm (Fig. 2E, F);
spe ma hecal duc long, hick, coiled a he base
o ampulla, ec al po ion slende , ouches he
a ial lobe on segmen 8 om he median side a
abou 1/3 d o he base, pass o wa d o join a
junc ion o a ial lobes. O a ian chambe absen ;
o isacs pai ed, long, ubula , ex ends in segmen s
12–14, 15, 16 ape ing end. Neph idia holoic,
a esicula e.
Va ia ions. In he holo ype an e io o he
gizza d on segmen s 14, 15, wo weak gizza d-
like s uc u es a e p esen , bu hey a e no as ha d
as he ue gizza ds ound in he ollowing seg-
men s. An e io lobe (segmen 7) o he spe -
ma hecal a ium is sligh ly sho e han he one on
segmen 8 in one specimen. In pa a ype (ZSIK
Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.INV.29373) he p os-
a ic capsule nodula ions a e dis inc ly b anched.
Tes is sac posi ion: in one specimen i ex ends in
segmen s 9–10 on le side, 9–11 on igh side, in
ano he specimen i ex ends in segmen s 9–12 on
igh side.
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
101
Figu e 2. D awida ka a ala sp. no ., p os a e and spe ma heca: A – Image o he p os a e, po ions o glands los du ing he s u-
dy, le side, do sal iew; B – Illus a ion o he p os a e, le side, do sal iew; C – Image o he p os a ic capsule, le side,
do sal iew; D – Illus a ion o he p os a ic capsule, le side, do sal iew; E – Image o he bi id spe ma hecal a -
ium, igh side, do sal iew; F – Illus a ion o he bi id spe ma hecal a ium o le side, do sal iew. Abb e-
ia ions. A – Spe ma hecal a ium; Mu – Muscle; Pc – P os a ic capsule; Pd – P os a ic duc ; P – P os a e
Sa – Spe ma hecal ampulla; Sd – Spe ma hecal duc ; Ts – Tes is sac; Vd – Vas de e ens.
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
102
E ymology. The speci ic epi he “ka a ala” is a
eminine noun de i ed om he Sansk i adjec i e
“ka a alam”, meaning ‘palm o he hand’. In
e e ence o he spe ma hecal a ial lobes’ supe -
icial esemblance o he closed human palm.
Sansk i is an ancien classical Indian language.
Inges a. Chie ly colloids o ine soil wi h
spa se ba k o woody o ganic ma e ials.
Habi a . Highe ele a ion o es (e e g een
and shola–like e e g een) wi h b ownish black
o es -loam soil wi h much humus. Syzygium
lae um, Chinan hus mala-elengi, Gne um edule,
Ga cinia gummi-gu a, Meiogyne pannosa, Ac i-
nodaphne wigh iana, Li sea co iacea, Li sea
lo ibunda e c. a e some o he lo al species
ound in he Ranipu am Hills (Ramachand an &
A umugam 2021).
Ecology. Appea s o be an endogeic species, as
indica ed by la ge quan i y o ine soil and a ew
small pa icles o o ganic ma e in he in es ine.
Au o omy p esen , which indica es he abili y o
species o egene a e he los po ion. A ew cys s
o pa asi ic p o ozoans we e ound in he egion
o ep oduc i e sys em in one specimen. D.
ka a ala sp. no . was ound o sha e he ype
locali y wi h o he ea hwo m species such as D.
soma a pa ana Rao, 1921, D awida kana ensis
S ephenson, 1917.
Dis ibu ion. Endemic o India: Ke ala S a e:
Kasa agod Dis ic : Ranipu am (Fig. 3). Ranipu-
am is bo de ed wi h he o es s o Talaka e i
Wildli e Sanc ua y, Ka na aka S a e, possibly, i
can also be ound in he nea by egions o
Ka na aka.
Rema ks. D awida ka a ala sp. no . belongs
o he Robus a species g oup. Species o his
g oup ha e glandula p os a es and bilobed spe -
ma hecal a ia. Including he new species de-
sc ibed he e in his wo k, he Robus a g oup con-
sis s o nine species, iz., D. obus a obus a
(Bou ne, 1886), D. obus a ophidioides (Bou ne,
1894), D. gha ensis Michaelsen, 1910, D. soma-
a pa ana Rao, 1921, D. obus a cochinensis
S ephenson, 1925, D awida homasi Na ayanan &
Julka, 2017, D. paliwali Na ayanan, 2024, D.
p oboscidea Na ayanan, 2024, and D. ka a ala sp.
no . Cha ac e s o he g oup membe s a e com-
pa ed in de ail in able 1.
Two subg oups a e ecognized wi hin he
Robus a species g oup, i) Robus a subg oup: wi h
dis inc ly bilobed a ium, and ii) Cochinensis
subg oup: wi h sligh ly bilobed a ium (lobes a e
like ligh p o ube ances) (Na ayanan e al. 2024c).
D. ka a ala sp. no . belongs o he Robus a sub-
g oup, his includes D. obus a obus a (Bou ne,
1886), D. obus a ophidioides (Bou ne, 1894), D.
soma a pa ana Rao, 1921, D awida homasi Na-
ayanan & Julka, 2017, D. paliwali Na ayanan,
2024, and D. ka a ala sp. no .
Di e ences be ween D. ka a ala sp. no . and
o he species in he subg oup a e as ollows: D.
ka a ala sp. no . can be easily dis inguished om
D. . obus a and D. . ophidioides by he shape o
he p os a e (an il-like s hemisphe ical). I can
be di e en ia ed om D. soma a pa ana by he
kind o p os a e (single, an il-like s bi id, inge -
like). Spe ma hecal a ial lobe e y long, coiled
in o a compac mass in D. homasi, whe eas i is
closed human palm-like in D. ka a ala sp. no .
Fu he , based on he shape o spe ma hecal
a ium D. ka a ala sp. no . can be asce ained
om D. paliwali as well (closed human palm-like
s sacula , w inkled).
DISCUSSION
Richness o D awida is minimal in he eas e n
Asia, bu high in Myanma , no h-eas e n India,
and e y high in Peninsula Indian po ions,
pa icula ly he sou he n Wes e n Gha s
(Blakemo e e al. 2014, Na ayanan e al. 2020,
2024c, 2025d). Wi hin India, he Wes e n Gha s-
Wes coas is he mos impo an egion o
ea hwo m di e si y, which exhibi s a ema kably
high deg ee o endemism a bo h he species and
gene ic le els (Julka & Paliwal 2005, Na ayanan
e al. 2020, 2023a). In gene al, moniligas id
ea hwo ms show high species ichness in he
sou he n Wes e n Gha s (S ephenson 1923, Ga es
1945, Na ayanan e al. 2020, 2023a, 2024c, d, e,
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
103
Figu e 3. Loca ion o he ype locali y (Ranipu am) o D awida ka a ala sp. no . in Ke ala S a e, India.
2025b, d). Wi hin he Wes e n Gha s, he genus
exhibi s high di e si y in he sou he nmos s a e
o Ke ala, among 28 species eco ded, 13 a e
endemic (Na ayanan e al. 2016b, 2017, 2023a,
2024c, e, 2025d). Wi h he desc ip ion o he new
species, he numbe o D awida species epo ed
om he Wes e n Gha s and Ke ala s a e inc eases
o 53 and 29 species espec i ely.
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
104
Key o he species o Robus a g oup o D awida
Michaelsen, 1900
1. Spe ma hecal a ium dis inc ly bilobed, in segmen s
7 and 8 ........................................................................ 2
– Spe ma hecal a ium sligh ly bilobed (lobes a e like
ligh p o ube ances), in segmen 7 .......................... 7
2. P os a e bi id, inge -like a each side .......................
...................................... D. soma a pa ana Rao, 1921
– P os a e single a each side ...................................... 3
3. P os a es hemisphe ical, sessile ............................. 4
– P os a es o he wise .................................................. 5
4. A ial lobes e ec , ubula ; an e io lobe la ge .........
........................................ D. . obus a (Bou ne, 1886)
– A ial lobes ea like, an e io lobe smalle ...............
..................................D. . ophidioides (Bou ne, 1894)
5. Spe ma hecal a ial lobe e y long, coiled in o a
compac mass .... D. homasi Na ayanan & Julka, 2017
– Spe ma hecal a ial lobe sho and no coiled .......... 6
6. A ial lobes la ge, sacula , w inkled; an e io lobe
sho e ............................. D. paliwali Na ayanan, 2024
– A ial lobes small o medium size, closed human
palm-like ......................................................................
....... D. ka a ala Na ayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. no .
7. P os a e sub-sphe ical wi h sho s alk, almos as
wide as he gland .. D. . cochinensis S ephenson, 1925
– P os a e o he wise .................................................... 8
8. P os a e mush oom-shaped .......................................
.................................... D. gha ensis Michaelsen, 1910
– P os a e club-shaped ..................................................
................................. D. p oboscidea Na ayanan, 2024
Acknowledgemen s – The au ho s a e indeb ed o he
Depa men o Fo es and Wildli e, Go e nmen o Ke ala,
India, o he pe mission o collec specimens and p o iding
he necessa y acili ies. Fi s au ho ex ends his since e
hanks o M . S. Sa h umi h a and D . M. Ramesan o he
help o e ed du ing he ieldwo ks. Au ho s wish o hank D .
Roshna h Ramesh and M . A jun C.P. o p o iding an
addi ional specimen om Ranipu am. Au ho s ex end hei
hank ulness o M . Na een Babu o p epa ing he dis i-
bu ion map.
REFERENCES
AHMED, S., EMILIYAMMA, K.G., MARIMUTHU, N., &
JULKA, J.M. (2022): A new species o he genus
Tonoscolex Ga es, 1933 (Cli ella a: Megasco-
lecidae) om India. Zoo axa, 5124(3): 375–382.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.5124.3.6
AHMED, S., JULKA, J.M., BANERJEE, D. & MARI-
MUTHU, N. (2023a): A new species o he genus
Hoplochae ella Michaelsen 1900 (Cli ella a: Oc o-
chae idae) om he Deccan Peninsula Biogeo-
g aphic Zone, India. Zoo axa, 5346(2): 173–185.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.5346.2.5
AHMED, S., JULKA, J.M., BANERJEE, D. & MARI-
MUTHU, N. (2023b): A new species o he genus
Eu yphoeus Michaelsen 1900 (Cli ella a: Acan ho-
d ilidae) om he No h-Eas e n Biogeog aphic
Zone, India. Zoo axa, 5380(2): 167–172.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.5380.2.4
AHMED, S., BANERJEE, D. & MARIMUTHU, N. (2025):
Two new ea hwo m species o he gene a Eu y-
phoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and P iodoscolex Ga es,
1940 (C assicli ella a: Acan hod ilidae) om India.
Zoo axa, 5609(2): 236–248.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.5609.2.5
ANUJA, R., NARAYANAN, S.P., SATHRUMITHRA, S.,
THOMAS, A.P. & JULKA, J.M. (2020): Fi s eco d
o exo ic ea hwo m Euke ia kueken hali (Mich-
aelsen, 1908) (Annelida: Oligochae a) om Ke ala,
India. Jou nal o he Bombay Na u al His o y
Socie y, 117: 165–167.
h ps://doi.o g/10.17087/jbnhs/2020/ 117/131225
ANUJA, R., NARAYANAN, S.P., SATHRUMITHRA, S.,
THOMAS, A.P. & JULKA, J.M. (2023): Di e si y o
ea hwo ms in di e en land use sys ems o
Ko ayam dis ic , Ke ala, India. P oceedings o he
Na ional Academy o Sciences, India, Sec ion B
Biological Sciences, 93(1): 27–44.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/s40011-022-01397-5
BLAKEMORE, R.J. (2012): Cosmopoli an Ea hwo ms –
an Eco-Taxonomic Guide o he Pe eg ine Species
o he Wo ld. 5 h Edi ion. Ve mEcology Solu ions,
Yokohama, 850 pp., 350 igs.
BLAKEMORE, R.J., LEE, S. & SEO, H-Y. (2014): Re-
po s o D awida (Oligochae a: Moniligas idae)
om Eas Asia. Jou nal o Species Resea ch, 3(2):
127–166.
h ps://doi.o g/10.12651/JSR.2014.3.2.127
BOURNE, A.G. (1886): On Indian ea hwo ms - pa I.
p elimina y no ice o ea hwo ms om he Nilgi is
and She a oys. P oceedings o he Scien i ic Mee -
ings o he Zoological Socie y o London, 1886:
662–672.
Na ayanan e al.: D awida ka a ala, a new species o ea hwo m om he Wes e n Gha s o India
105
BOURNE, A.G. (1894): On Moniligas e g andis, A. G.
B., om he Nilgi is, S. India; oge he wi h de-
sc ip ions o o he species o he genus Monili-
gas e . Qua e ly Jou nal o Mic oscopical Sci-
ence, 36: 307–384.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1242/jcs.s2-36.143.307
BRINKHURST, R.O. & JAMIESON, B.G.M. (1971):
Aqua ic Oligochae a o he Wo ld. Oli e & Boyd,
Edinbu gh, 860 pp.
CLAUS, C. (1880): G undzüge de Zoologie. Vol. 1. 4 h
Edi ion. N. G. Elwe ’sche Ve lagsbuchhandlung,
Ma bu g, 821 pp.
CSUZDI, Cs. (2005): Ea hwo ms (Annelida: Oligo-
chae a) o Sao Tomé. Jou nal o Na u al His o y,
39(33): 3039–3058.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1080/00222930500198403
GATES, G.E. (1945): On some Indian ea hwo ms II.
Jou nal o he Royal Asia ic Socie y Bengal, 11:
54–91.
GATES, G.E. (1972): Bu mese ea hwo ms, an in o-
duc ion o he sys ema ic and biology o he GATES
oligochae es wi h special e e ence o sou heas
Asia. T ansac ions o he Ame ican Philosophical
Socie y, 62(7): 1–326.
h ps://doi.o g/10.2307/1006214
HASAN, M.N., REYNOLDS, J.W., GHOSH, S. & MAN-
DAL, C.K. (2024): An upda e o species in he
Me aphi e genus along wi h Me aphi e incla a
(Ga es, 1932) (Oligochae a: Megascolecidae): A
new eco d in India. Asian Jou nal o Biodi e si y,
15: 1–29.
JAMES, S.W. & DAVIDSON, S.K. (2012): Molecula
phylogeny o ea hwo ms (Annelida: C assicli-
ella a) based on 28S, 18S and 16S gene sequences.
In e eb a e Sys ema ics, 26(2): 213–229.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1071/IS11012
JAMIESON, B.G.M. (1977): On he phylogeny o he
Moniligas idae, wi h desc ip ion o new species o
Moniligas e (Oligochae a, Annelida). E olu iona y
Theo y, 2, 95–114.
JAMIESON, B.G.M. (1988): On he phylogeny and
highe classi ica ion o he Oligochae a. Cladis ics,
4(4): 367–401. h ps://doi.o g/10.1111/j.1096-
0031.1988. b00520.x
JULKA, J.M. & CHANDRA, M. (1986): On a small
collec ion o ea hwo ms and leeches (Annelida)
om he Silen Valley, Ke ala, India. Reco ds o
he Zoological Su ey o India, 84 (1–4): 165–171.
h ps://doi.o g/10.26515/ zsi/ 84/i1-4/1986/161091
JULKA, J.M. & PALIWAL, R. (2005): Dis ibu ion o
ea hwo ms in di e en ag o-clima ic egion o
India. In: RAMAKRISHNAN, P.S., SAXENA, K.G.,
SWIFT, M.J., RAO, K.S. & MAIKHURI, R.K. (Eds.).
Soil Biodi e si y, Ecological P ocesses and
Landscape. Ox o d and ABH Publica ions Co. P .,
New Delh, p. 3–13.
JULKA, J.M., BLANCHART, E. & CHAPUIS-LARDY, L.
(2004): New gene a and new species o ea hwo ms
(Oligochae a: Oc ochae idae) om Wes e n Gha s,
Sou h India. Zoo axa, 486: 1–27.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.486.1.1
KOBAYASHI, S. (1941): On some ea hwo ms om he
Sou h Sea Islands. II. The Science Repo s o he
Tohoku Impe ial Uni e si y, 16: 391–405.
LIU, M., LI, J., ZHANG, Y., ASPE, N.M., WU, D.,
ZHAO, H. & ZHENG, G. (2025): A new species o
he D awida ghila o i species complex (Oligo-
chae a, Moniligas idae) in Changbai Moun ain,
No heas China. Zoosys ema ics E olu ion,
101(2): 627–641.
h ps://doi.o g/10.3897/zse.101.1465847
MICHAELSEN, W. (1900): Das Tie eich 10: Ve mes,
Oligochae a. F iedlände & Sohn, Be lin, 575 pp.
[in Ge man] h ps://doi.o g/10.5962/bhl. i le.11605
MICHAELSEN, W. (1910): Die Oligochä en auna de
o de indisch-ceylonischen egion. Abhandlungen
aus dem Gebie e de Na u wissenscha en, he aus-
gegeben om Na u wissenscha lichen Ve ein in
Hambu g, 19(5): 1–108.
MICHAELSEN, W. (1919): Übe die Beziehungen de
Hi udineen zu den Oligochä en. Jah buch de
Hambu gischen Wissenscha lichen Ans al en, 36:
131–153.
NAIK, A., NARAYANAN, S.P., PALITA, S.K., THOMAS,
A.P. & PALIWAL, R. (2024): Two new species o
he genus Megascolex Temple on, 1844 (Cli ella a,
Megascolecidae) om he Eas e n Gha s o Odisha
s a e, India. Zoo axa, 5424(5): 569–580.
h ps://doi.o g/10.11646/zoo axa.5424.5.5
NARAYANAN, S.P., SATHRUMITHRA, S., KURIAKOSE,
D., CHRISTOPHER, G., THOMAS, A.P. & JULKA,
J.M. (2016a): A e exo ics Amyn has alexand i
(Bedda d, 1900) and Me aphi e peguana (Rosa,
1890) (Cli ella a: Oligochae a: Megascolecidae) a
h ea o na i e ea hwo ms in Ke ala, India?
