Recollection of Amynthas pallidus (Michaelsen, 1892) (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from India after a Century
S. Prasanth Narayanan
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam – 686 560, Kerala, India.
Divyam Negi
Division of Zoology, Career Point University, Hamirpur – 176 045, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Shailja Kumari
*
Division of Zoology & Centre for Green Energy Research, Career Point University, Hamirpur – 176 045, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Akash Kumar Verma
Conservator of Forests (Garhwal Circle), Kandolia Village, Pauri, Uttarakhand, India.
R. Paliwal
House No 77/62, Mansarovar, Jaipur – 302 020, Rajasthan, India.
A.P. Thomas
Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam – 686 560, Kerala, India.
J.M. Julka
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan – 173 212, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Subham Kapil
Division of Zoology & Centre for Green Energy Research, Career Point University, Hamirpur – 176 045, Himachal Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Amynthas pallidus (Michaelsen, 1892) is a poorly characterised pheretimoid species, formerly considered to be a synonym of A. morrisi (Beddard, 1892). Present report concerns its recollection from the Western Himalayan biodiversity hotspot of India after a gap of 125 years. This work provides the detailed taxonomic description of the species and illustrated in detail for the first time. Besides, certain biological aspects are also discussed. Distribution of A. pallidus is confused with that of A. morrisi sensu stricto, hence careful molecular studies are needed to figure out the A. pallidus and A. morrisi records from India.
Keywords: Amynthas pallidus, taxonomy, Western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India