A new genus and species of earthworm (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from semi-arid Australia

Abstract

A new genus and species of terrestrial oligochaete, Aridulodrilus molesworthae (Megascolecidae) is described from a new species found in a semi-arid habitat in New South Wales, Australia. The location of this species provides additional evidence that localized landscape and pedologic factors have allowed isolated populations of native earthworms to persist in areas where low rainfall averages were previously thought to preclude their occurrence. The genus has a combination of morphological features that distinguish it from all other Australian genera. While it shares some features with genera in Western Australia, the wide geographic gap (some 2300 km) appears to preclude any close phylogenetic affinity with these taxa.

Keywords

• oligochaeta
• megascolecidae
• aridulodrilus
• semi-arid australia
• earthworm taxonomy
• climate adaptation
• microhabitat