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