Kanchuria Tripuraensis & Kanchuria Priyasankari

Prelims: Current events of National Importance and International Importance | Conservation

Why in News?

Tripura University and scientists from Kerala recently identified two new earthworm species.

The specimens were first collected between 2004 and 2010.
The new team later managed to recollect the specimens, paving the way for formal classification and scientific description.

Eastern Himalayas and the Northeastern Hill regions are the 2^nd-richest zones in India for earthworm diversity.

Genus - Kanchuria, first described by Julka in 1988, is endemic to this region and previously comprised 8 species.
Kanchuria tripuraensis – It stands out for its unique anatomical feature, a single ventromedian spermatheca located in segments 7 and 8, a trait not seen in other species of the genus.
It has been named after Tripura, where it was found thriving in rubber and pineapple plantations, highlighting the ecological diversity of even agriculturally modified landscapes.
Kanchuria priyasankari -It belongs to the turaensis-species group and is characterised by three pairs of spermathecal pores.
It is a tribute to Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri, whose long dedication to earthworm taxonomy has placed Tripura on the national and international map for soil biodiversity studies.
Though similar to Kanchuria turaensis, it can be easily distinguished by its smaller body size and distinct reproductive structures.

With these additions, the total number of known species in the genus now rises to 10.

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