As presented at International Symposium of Earthworm Ecology (ISEE)VII, Cardiff,
2002; and at ISEE8 Krakow, Poland Sept., 2006.
Recommended text for ISO/DIS 23611 Soil quality - Sampling of soil
invertebrates.
COSMOPOLITAN EARTHWORMS
– an Eco-Taxonomic Guide to the Peregrine Species of the World
3rd Edition (2008)
by
Robert J. Blakemore PhD
“Essential tool for ecological study of the soil fauna, anywhere.”
The Biology, Ecology and Identification of the 130+ most Common Exotic Species
found around the World – not just the easy ones – including the Vermicomposting
Species (e.g., Eisenia fetida / andrei, Perionyx excavatus, Eudrilus eugeniae,
Dendrobaena / Dendrodrilus and Pheretima spp., etc.).
All world Families of Earthworms (Annelida : Oligochaeta) – a.k.a. angleworms,
lombris, mimizu, minhoca, night crawlers, oligochaetes, oligochètes, oligoqueto,
sanguessuga, vers de terre – are reviewed and represented. Language English.
Simple CD guide. Pages 717+ 180 figs.
Format – Windows 95/98/ME or NT/2000/XP with MS Word + graphics capability.
Cost:
Institutional, per copy
Student copy price
US$100.00
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COSMOPOLITAN EARTHWORMS CD TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Dedications & Acknowledgements ….………….…..………………………..……. i
Preface to Editions .......................................................................................……..... iii
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Background ................................................................................…....................…. 3
Characters and origins of peregrine species ….....................…........................... 7
Translocation and export of Australian native species ……..……………......... 8
2. BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
Origins …………………………………………..……........................................... 11
Earthworm biology, morphology and reproduction ………............................... 14
Hybridization …......................………………………............................................ 15
Biometry, Size range ………………………..……................................................ 16
Longevity …......................…………………..……................................................. 19
Regeneration ....................…………………..……................................................. 20
Predators, parasites, pathogens & symbionts ..................................................... 21
Population abundance & diversity ……………................................................... 24
Table 1. Reports of diversity & abundance in various habitats of Australia.
Biodiversity resources and regional distributions …............……...................... 27
Rates of spread of introduced earthworms ……..……....................................... 35
Ecological strategies …......................……..…...................................................... 37
Behavioural trials ………..……............................................................................ 41
Temperature and moisture tolerances …............................................................. 42
Effects on soil processes ….....................…………............................................... 43
Introduction
Nutrient cycling
Water relationships
Soil structure
Worm casts
Burrows & roots
Root mats and organic matter
Mesofauna & Microorganisms
Plant growth factors
4. AGRONOMIC POTENTIAL OF EARTHWORMS ……………..................... 52
Effects on plant production
Table 2. Summary of pot experiments of earthworm effects on plant yields.
Table 3. Summary of field experiments of earthworm effects on plant yields.
Programs to introduce earthworms
Conclusions on building healthy soils
4. NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL USES .................................................... 65
5. ECO-TAXONOMY………................................................................................ 66
Introduction
Collection
Inspection
Anatomical characters used in taxonomy
Identification
Problem of parthenogenetic polymorphism
Systematics (Linnaean / Binomial taxonomy vs. Cladistics)
Summaries of Family Classification/Distributions/Taxonomists …… 92
6. GUIDE TO THE SPECIES ………..…….....…...........................................…. 103
Introductory Keys to the Revised Families of Earthworms ......................…. 104
Approximate Totals for Species of Families ….………..…………………..… 109
Family Enchytraeidae .....................................…...........................................… 110
Family Moniligastridae (e.g Drawida barwelli)….........................................… 111
Family Ocnerodrilidae. (e.g. Ocnerodrilus occidentalis)...............................… 127
Family Acanthodrilidae (e.g Microscolex phosphoreus)................................… 146
Family Octochaetidae (e.g. Dichogaster bolaui)………...............................…. 169
Family Megascolecidae (e.g. Perionyx excavatus)……..................................… 203
Table 4. Key characters to Pheretima-group genera.
Keys to common peregrine pheretimoids …………..……….……..…...…… 235
Comments on misidentification of Pheretima browni Stephenson, 1912 .....… 240
Genus Amynthas ........................................…………………….……..…...…… 241
Possible synonyms of Perichaeta barbadensis Beddard, 1892 .................. 270
Genus Metaphire ........................................…………………….……..…...…… 317
Metaphire hilgendorfi / Amynthas tokioensis spp-complex…………….... 327
Genus Pheretima s. stricto ........................…………………….……..…...……. 361
Genus Polypheretima ……........................…………………….……..…...……. 382
Family Glossoscolecidae (e.g. Pontoscolex corethrurus)..........…..................….. 397
Family Eudrilidae (e.g. Eudrilus eugeniae)…...........................…..................…. 406
Family Almidae ...................................….....................................…...……….…. 412
Family Criodrilidae (e.g. Criodrilus lacuum)..................................….........….… 416
Family Sparganophilidae .......................…......................................…............… 425
Family Lumbricidae (e.g. Lumbricus terrestris).................................….............. 430
Keys to peregrine lumbricid genera/species
Table 5. Characters differentiating common lumbricid genera.
Tables 6 & 7. Differentiating Aporrectodea caliginosa species-complex s. Blakemore.
Genus et species dubiae Lumbricidarum ……………….……………………… 581
7. APPENDICES and REFERENCES ...................................................……........ 582
Glossary
Conventions (Taxonomic and Earthworm Identifications)
Abbreviations
Definitions ………………………………………….…………………... 585
References / BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................……………………......……..... 608-717
Table 8. Non-endemic earthworms from various regions of the world.
Dec., 2008