New data on the Drawida (Moniligastridae) tropical earthworms at their northern habitat edge. G.N. GANIN

Abstract

The tropical genera Drawida earthworms are presented in Priamurye and Primorye by 6 species and live on northern limit of distribution. In the mountain forests they are anecic worms (the Red Book endemic of Drawida ghilarovi Gates, 1969 is among them). In the wetlands – epigeic Drawida ganini Zhang sp. nov. only, this is a new species for science. These moniligastrida noticeably differ both in pigmentation, genetic, biology and ecology specifics. Forest drawida have several stable color morphs, inhabiting the different soil horizons. Meadow-swamp earthworms are only black-colored; they protruded far north along the Amur floodplain. Sympatry of these life-forms has not been noted yet. Experiments showed that grey worms can survive in peat soils too, whereas black drawida die in forest soils. Paleogeography in combination with phylogenetics data clear up some mechanisms of species origin on the area border and also the formation ways of the modern Far Eastern megadrili fauna.