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Scientists Unearth "Matchless" New Earthworm, Rediscover Another After 81 Years in Western Ghats
M
Moneycontrol•04-10-2026, 14:57
Scientists Unearth "Matchless" New Earthworm, Rediscover Another After 81 Years in Western Ghats
- •Researchers discovered a new earthworm species, Drawida incomparabilis, in the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, notable for its large size (up to 392mm) and unique anatomical features like a glandular prostate and unusually positioned gizzards.
- •The name "incomparabilis" signifies its distinctiveness, setting it apart from other known members of its genus.
- •Scientists also rediscovered Drawida loricata, an earthworm not reported in scientific records for 81 years since its original description in 1945, with new specimens collected from Tamil Nadu.
- •These discoveries highlight the rich, yet poorly documented, biodiversity of the Western Ghats, a major global biodiversity hotspot.
- •The findings underscore that significant new species discoveries can occur in familiar environments, often just by digging beneath the surface.
Key Questions Answered
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India and Mahatma Gandhi University discovered a new earthworm species named Drawida incomparabilis in the Western Ghats.
Scientists collected specimens of Drawida loricata, an earthworm originally described in 1945 that had not been reported in scientific records for over eight decades.
The new species belongs to the earthworm family Moniligastridae and the highly diverse genus Drawida, which forms an important part of underground ecosystems across Asia.
