Eisenia foetida,
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Epigeics
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Superficial soil layers, leaf litter, compost
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Smaller in size, body uniformly pigmented, active gizzard, short life cycle, high reproduction rate and regeneration, tolerant to disturbance, phytophagous
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Efficient bio-degraders and nutrient releasers, efficient compost producers, aids in litter comminution and early decomposition
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Lumbricus rubellus,
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L. castaneus,
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L. festivus,
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Eiseniella tetraedra,
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Bimastus minusculus,
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B. eiseni,
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Dendrodrilus rubidus,
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Dendrobaena veneta,
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D. octaedra
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Aporrectodea caliginosa,
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Endogeics
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Topsoil or subsoil
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Small to large sized worms, weakly pigmented, life cycle of medium duration, moderately tolerant to disturbance, geophagous
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Brings about pronounced changes in soil physical structure, can efficiently utilize energy from poor soils hence can be used for soil improvements
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A. trapezoides,
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A. rosea,
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Millsonia anomala,
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Octolasion cyaneum,
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Polyhumic endogeic
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Top soil (A1)
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Small size, unpigmented, forms horizontal burrows, rich soil feeder
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O. lacteum,
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Pontoscolex corethrurus,
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Mesohumic endogeic
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A and B horizon
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Medium size, unpigmented, forms extensive horizontal burrows, bulk (A1) soil feeder
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Allolobophora chlorotica,
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Aminthas sp.
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Oligohumic endogeic
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B and C horizon
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Very large in size, unpigmented, forms extensive horizontal burrows, feeds on poor, deep soils
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L. terrestris,
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Anecics
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Permanent deep burrows in soil
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Large in size, dorsally pigmented, forms extensive, deep, vertical permanent burrows, low reproductive rate, sensitive to disturbance, phytogeophagous, nocturnal
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Forms vertical burrows affecting air-water relationship and movement from deep layers to surface helps in efficient mixing of nutrients
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L. polyphemus,
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A. longa
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