Malayali scientist discovers new earthworm species in Ranipuram forests
Earthworm species Drawida Karatala, a new earthworm species resembling a human palm, has been discovered in the Ranipuram forest of Kasargod, Kerala.
Earthworm species Drawida Karatala, a new earthworm species resembling a human palm, has been discovered in the Ranipuram forest of Kasargod, Kerala.
Earthworm species Drawida Karatala, a new earthworm species resembling a human palm, has been discovered in the Ranipuram forest of Kasargod, Kerala.
Kottayam: Researchers have discovered a new species of earthworm named Drawida karatala. The species, belonging to the robusta family, was identified by a team comprising Dr S. Prashant Narayanan, scientist at Mahatma Gandhi University’s Advanced Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD), and Dr JM Julka, former joint director of the Zoological Survey of India and professor at Shoolini University.
According to Dr Prashant Narayanan, the species has been named Drawida karatala because its shape resembles a human palm. The earthworm was discovered in the Ranipuram forest area of Kasaragod district.
Dr Prashant noted that the Western Ghats are home to the largest diversity of Drawida species. With this latest discovery, the total number of earthworm species identified in the Western Ghats has risen to 53, while Kerala’s count has increased to 29.
Established in 2010, ACESSD is an inter-university centre under Mahatma Gandhi University that conducts ecological research aimed at promoting sustainable development. The centre currently runs seven research projects, including classification and molecular studies of earthworms, and houses a collection of over 21,000 earthworm specimens.