Metaphire houletti (Perrier, 1872)

Kharkongor, Ilona J., 2018, Taxonomic and ecological studies on the earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 118 (1), pp. 56-56 : 56-

12. Metaphire houletti morph ( Gates, 1972)

1972. Pheretima houletti smaller Hp morph: Gates, Trans. Am Phil. Soc., 62 (7): 194.

1982. Metaphire houletti smaller Hp morph: Julka, Rec. zool. Surv. India, 80: 143.

Material examined: 1 ex. Regn. No. IV/ANN/NERC-17. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawlongphlang , near JNV, N 25 o 30’32.4”; E 91 o 14’23.5”; Alt. 1379m, 26.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party ; 2 ex. Regn. No. IV/ANN/ NERC-21. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawthar village ,near Puiñsneiñ stream, N25 o 28’05.0”; E91 o 15’39.0”; Alt. 1407m, 24.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party ; 2 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/NERC-28. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Riangdo village , N25 o 40’41.8”; E91 o 03’15.8”; Alt. 913m; 22.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party ; 1 ex. Regn. No. IV/ANN/NERC-43. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawthadraishan Peak , N25 o 32’25.6”; E91 o 27’15.2”; Alt. 1933m; 25.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party .

Diagnosis: Length 40-130. Segments 90-120. Epilobic. Perichaetine. Genital markings, none externally. Prostates extending from 16-23, ducts variously looped.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (EKHD, JHD, WKHD). Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Indo-Gangetic Plains to Doon Valley, Meghalaya. Elsewhere: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Java, FIJI Islands, Formosa, Indonesia, Thailand, Central America, Cuba and USA.

Remarks: Metaphire houletti (Perrier) has seven morphs ( Gates, 1972). In Meghalaya, this smaller Hp morph is found. This is an epi-anecic species living on the surface soil and feeding on the organic matter in the soil and also on the leaf litter. Recorded, herein, for the first time from WKHD.