A fascinating new species of earthworm has recently been discovered by a dedicated team of scientists within the biodiverse Ranipuram forest region, nestled in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. This exciting find highlights the continued importance of exploring our natural environments.
The groundbreaking research was spearheaded by S. Prashant Narayanan from the Advanced Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD) at Mahatma Gandhi University. He collaborated with J.M. Julka, a former Joint Director of the Zoological Survey of India, to identify and classify this unique creature. The newly identified species belongs to the Drawida genus within the Robust family and has been officially christened Drawida karatala.
Mr. Narayanan emphasized the significance of this discovery, noting that it considerably enhances our understanding of the Drawida species’ incredible diversity in the Western Ghats. With this addition, the total count of Drawida species in this ecologically vital region now stands at 53. Specifically for Kerala, this new finding brings the recorded species in this genus to an impressive 29.
Further underscoring the scientific impact of this work, an official statement revealed that Mr. Narayanan has earned international recognition as a leading taxonomist by the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Biodiversity, solidifying his expertise in classifying life forms.