Certain groups of invertebrates are becoming mainstreamed in conservation activities in KwaZulu-Natal, especially taxa that have many narrow-range species endemic to the province. As a result, there may be a need to assign common (in this case English) names where these are unavailable. A list of scientific names and standardised common names is presented for earthworm species occurring in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, north-eastern South Africa.

Earthworms, English names, Acanthodrilinae , Microchaetidae , Tritogeniidae , KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This paper is the second providing English names for invertebrate groups that have many species endemic to the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot in the eastern region of South Africa, in the middle of which lies most of the province of KwaZulu-Natal (Mittermeier et al. 2005). The reasons for providing English names for these invertebrates, including now earthworms, are given in Armstrong and Hamer (2015). Land transformation is probably the most important threat facing indigenous earthworm species in KwaZulu-Natal (e.g. Plisko 2000a), and 53 % of the total provincial landscape was in a natural state in 2011 (Jewitt et al. 2015). By 2050, Jewitt et al. (2015) estimate that 45 % of KwaZulu-Natal will remain in a natural state. As a result, the conservation requirements of the endemic invertebrate species need to be included in conservation planning and environmental impact assessments (McGeoch et al. 2011). The vulnerability of these species to extinction needs to be communicated to the general public who relate more to English names than scientific names. Eighty-eight earthworm species are currently thought to be endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, and many have very small total distribution ranges. Earthworms are slowly being incorporated into conservation planning and environmental impact assessments in KwaZulu-Natal (McGeoch et al. 2011). The provided list can be used as the basis for common names of genera and species elsewhere in South Africa should this be required.

The scientific name of an earthworm species may be based on the Latin or Greek language, or sometimes on the English or local language. The name of the species may refer to selected, specific, external or internal anatomical characters, based often on a single specimen, the Holotype, during its description. These characters may not be fully developed in an immature specimen. Many species have been named after the type locality, but this does not mean that it is the only species present at that locality. Many species are named after a person who collected, or assisted with the collection of, the specimen or who donated the specimen to a collection. Such a name does not indicate any diagnostic characters for the identification of the species. The same goes for species named in honour of a person or a property, or for species named for any other reason apart from a diagnostic identification character. All of the implemented common names should be treated as additional descriptions of the species with respect to already existing data.

English names for various species of earthworm have been in use for some time (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Biodiversity Database). These common names were taken as the starting point for the naming of the earthworm species in KwaZulu-Natal. Some genera in the province can be given names according to characteristics that are quite easily observable to the lay-person. However, since the internal organs and minute external setae are important distinguishing characteristics of families, genera and species of earthworm, the scientific names may reflect some aspect of these distinguishing characteristics. Therefore the name often does not describe readily observable features. The species occurring in KwaZulu-Natal and the scientific nomenclature were obtained from relevant publications (Nxele 2015; Plisko 1992, 1993, 1996a,b, 1997, 1998, 2000a,b, 2002a,b, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013; Plisko and Zicsi 1991; Pickford 1927, 1937; Kinberg 1867; Michaelsen 1899, 1907, 1913, 1928; Benham 1892; Beddard 1897, 1907; Reinecke and Ryke 1969; Cognetti de Martiis 1906; Zicsi 1998; Zicsi and Pajor 1992).

Figure 1. 

Subfamily Acanthodrilinae (Bristly earthworms): Timothy’s bristly earthworm Parachilota timothyi Plisko, 2008.

Figure 2. 

Family Microchaetidae (wrinkled earthworms): green giant wrinkled earthworm Microchaetus papillatus Benham, 1892.

Figure 3. 

Family Microchaetidae (wrinkled earthworms): setaceous wrinkled earthworm Proandricus setosus Plisko, 1996.

Figure 4. 

Family Tritogeniidae (stumpy earthworms): Zululand stumpy earthworm Tritogenia zuluensis (Beddard, 1907).

Table 1 gives the scientific names and English names of the species of earthworms known from KwaZulu-Natal.

The list of species of earthworms in KwaZulu-Natal gives each species a standardized English name that can be used for conservation planning and other conservation activities. Although identification of earthworm species usually has to be done by specialists and trained technicians, certain genera or species can be distinguished by external features such as feel, size and colour, in conjunction with distribution. Nevertheless, keys are available to distinguish between genera and species, including introduced species (e.g. Plisko 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000b, 2002a, 2004, 2006, 2013; Plisko and Nxele 2015; Plisko and Zicsi 1991; Zicsi and Pajor 1992). We trust that this short communication will assist with the inclusion of earthworm taxa in conservation activities and planning.

We thank Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the KwaZulu-Natal Museum for assisting with the research and publication of this work. The ideas, arguments and opinions expressed in this manuscript are that of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Danuta Plisko and Csaba Csuzdi are thanked for their useful comments and suggestions which improved the manuscript.