934 observations by 555 observers
25 species with 1325 identifications by 162 identifiers
Identification by Rank:
387 IDs (41%) at Suborder rank
322 IDs (34%) to Family rank (383 alien, 55 indigenous)
70 IDs (7%) to Genus
55 IDs (6%) to Species
14 (1.5%) are Research Grade.
Representation By Family:
Lumbricidae Invasive 352 observations 4 species 249 observers
Microchaetidae Wrinkled Earthworms: 54 observation 6 species in 3 genera 36 observers
Megascolecidae Giant Earthworms Invasive 31 observations 1 species 27 observers
Tritogeniidae Stumpy Earthworms 1 observation 0 species 1 observer
Acanthodrilidae Bristly Earthworms 0 observations
Eudrilidae Invasive 0 observations
Glossoscolecidae Invasive 0 observations
Ocnerodrilidae Invasive 0 observations
Top Species
23 Genus Lumbricus
12 Eisenia fetida Red Wriggler
9 Family Enchytraeidae Potworms
7 Microchaetus klopperi Adelaide Giant Earthworm
6 Microchaetus papillatus Green Giant Wrinkled Earthworm
5 Microchaetus rappi Rapper Giant Earthworm
4 Amynthas diffringens Japanese Jumper
3 Order Haplotaxida
3 Aporrectodea caliginosa Grey Worm
3 Microchaetus stuckenbergi Amatola Giant Earthworm
3 Microchaetus vernoni Mziinto Giant Earthworm
2 Pontoscolex corethrurus Quincunx Earthworm
2 Dendrodrilus rubidus Gilt-Tail
2 Aulophorus furcatus
Top Observers
1 tonyrebelo 36
2 colin25 17
3 botswanabugs 14
4 dewald2 13
5 bushboy 12
6 shauns 11
7 jandrevanzyl 10
8 cecileroux 10
9 rslhaupt 10
10 jane_trembath 10
Top Species Observers
1 dewald2 5
2 jane_trembath 2
3 magrietb 2
Top Identifiers
1 tonyrebelo 224
2 dianastuder 63
3 colin25 34
4 najera_tutor 24
5 th_decaens 18
6 lotteryd 17
7 joemdo 14
8 vynbos 10
Identifying Alien vs Indigenous Earthworms
FAMILY
Jadwiga D. Plisko and Thembeka C. Nxele "An Annotated Key Separating Foreign Earthworm Species from the Indigenous South African taxa (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Microchaetidae, Ocnerodrilidae and Tritogeniidae)," African Invertebrates 56(3), 663-708, (29 December 2015). https://doi.org/10.5733/afin.056.0312
An introductory key is provided below to separate species accredited to eight families (with two subfamilies) of the earthworms living in South African soils, and keys for each family that allow the identification of genera and species. Special attention was paid to indicate characters separating the indigenous Acanthodrilinae, Microchaetidae and Tritogeniidae from these introduced species belonging to the Acanthodrilinae (2 spp), Benhamiinae (5), Eudrilidae and Glossoscolecidae (each with 1 sp), Lumbricidae (18 spp), Megascolecidae (11 spp group and 2 spp) and Ocnerodrilidae (4)
Key to indigenous and introduced megadrile families and subfamilies occurring in South Africa
Glossary and illustrations in the original.
- 1' Prostatic pores and prostates absent (prostatic pores, if present, occur at the ventral part of the body in the area of segment 17–19 (Acanthodrilinae, Benhamiinae and Ocnerodrilidae) or are combined with male pores in intersegmental furrow 17/18 and covered by the ventral part of the clitellar tissues (Eudrilidae); they are ectal parts of prostatic ducts, opening near male pores or fused with them. Prostates are paired glands associated with the vasa deferentia extending to the exterior through the male pores). Setae lumbricine ... GoTo 2
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1" Prostates and prostatic pores present. Setae perichaetine or lumbricine ... GoTo 5
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Notes for 2: Female pores paired, in 14. Clitellum saddle-shaped. Tubercula pubertatis present. Spermathecal pores in some of the intersegmental furrows 9/10–16/17, paired or multiple.
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2' Segments simple on the whole body length (sometimes marked transversely, frail, dorsally or ventrally) with no secondary annulation ... GoTo 4
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2" Segment 3, 4–9, 10 with secondary annulation (annulated/ringleted) ... GoTo 3
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3' One gizzard in segment 7. Excretory system holoic ... ... Microchaetidae
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3" One gizzard in segment 6–7, or two gizzards: one in 6–7 and the second in 9. Excretory system meroic ... ... Tritogeniidae
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4' Setae (lumbricine), placed the same at each segment on the whole body length (may be closely paired, widely paired or placed in eight rows). Clitellum saddle-shaped on some of the segments 22–36 (initiating on some of 22–33; terminating on some of 31–36). Tubercula pubertatis on some of clitellar segments 28–35. Male pores paired, on segment 15 (except on 13 in Eiseniella tetraedra), with clear swollen tumescens around pores (exception Lumbricus rubellus and Lumbricus castaneus having clear pores, but no swollen glands around). Calciferous glands present, oesophageal ... ... Lumbricidae
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4" Setae (lumbricine), anterior closely paired, gradually wider apart, posteriorly the quincunx arrangement attained (setal couples are alternately closely and widely paired on successive segments. Clitellum saddle-shaped, initiating on segments 15, terminating at 22, 23 ... ... Glossoscolecidae
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5' Prostates racemose (a system of branching ductlets with no central lumen). Setae perichaetine. Female pore single, midventral in 14. Clitellum annular (encircling the body). Male genitalia megascolecine (a single pair of prostates racemose, opened to the exterior in 18 together with the sperm ducts) ... ... Megascolecidae
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5" Prostates tubular with central lumen; prostatic pores open beside or within a segment or two of the male pores. Seminal grooves variably shaped. Setae lumbricine. Female pores paired, in 14 (with a few exceptions in Benhamiinae being single ... GoTo 6
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6' Male reproductive organs with acanthodriline arrangement (two pairs of prostatic pores in segments 17 and 19 respectively, and male pores present in segment 18. This condition is usually associated with two pairs of spermathecae and their pores occurring in intersegmental furrows 7/8 and 8/9 respectively); or microscolecine (prostatic pores in 17 and 19, or absent; male pores in 17 or 18 or absent; spermathecal pores in 7/8 and 8/9 or 7/8 or 8/9); or balantine (prostatic pores in 18 or 19; male pores in 17 or 18; spermathecal pores in 7/8). Clitellum ring-shaped (rarely noted as saddle-shaped, possibly during partial maturity the clitellar ring is not completed) ... ... Acanthodrilidae
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6" Without combination of above characters, pores not in an acanthodriline arrangement ... GoTo 7
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7' Prostates tubular, modified, with enlarged central chamber ‘acorn-shaped’ (or ‘euprostate’). Male and prostatic pores paired, combined, with mutual pore in 17/18. Female and spermathecal pores paired, combined, in segment 14 ... ... Eudrilidae
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7" Prostatic pores paired, in 17 and 19 separated from the paired male pores located in 17 or 18 in seminal grooves ... ... Ocnerodrilidae
Some references to Earthworms in s Africa
