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-

11. Metaphire houletti (Perrier, 1872)

1872. Perichaeta houletti Perrier, Nouv. Archs. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris , 8: 99.

1900. Pheretima houletti (in part): Michaelsen, Das Tierreich, 10: 273.

1982. Metaphire houletti : Julka, Rec. Zool. Serv. India, 80: 142.

Materials examined: 5 ex. Regn. No. IV /ANN/NERC-38. India, Meghalaya, WKH District, Mawshynrut village, banks of Riangdo river , N25 o 40’41.8”; E91 o 03’15.8”; Alt. 913m, 22.vi.2010, coll. I.J.Kharkongor and party .

Diagnosis: Length 63-109. Segments 98-105. Epilobic. Perichaetine. First dorsal pore in 7/8-11/12. Spermathecal pores paired, transverse slits in 6/7/8/9. Clitellum annular, 14-16. Female pore single, median, presetal on 14. Combined male and prostatic pores paired, within copulatory pouches on 18.

Septa 8/9, 9/10 absent. Gizzard between 7/8 and 10/11. Intestine from 15. Intestinal caeca in 28. Seminal vesicles in 11 and 12.

Distribution: INDIA: Meghalaya (EKHD, JHD, WKHD). Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal. Elsewhere: Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.

Remarks: This tropical, peregrine, lowland species inhabits loamy soils and soils with high moisture content. It is commonly found in well-watered gardens, pastures, under stones/ logs in forests, bamboo groves and in soils near ponds, lakes, streams, etc. It has been classified as an epi-anecic species, inhabiting the surface soil and feeding on the organic matter present in the soil. Recorded, herein, for the first time from WKHD.