Agartala, June 14, 2025: In a significant contribution to biodiversity research, two previously unknown species of earthworms have been discovered in Tripura, adding to the state’s rich ecological diversity. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Tripura and Kerala during a recent collaborative study.

The research team included Dr. Animesh Dey, Assistant Professor at the Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Tripura University, alongside researchers S. Prasanth Narayanan, R. Paliwal and others from Kerala. Interestingly, the initial specimens were collected between 2004 and 2010 by Dr. Dey and Dr. Sabyasachi Nath during their doctoral research under the guidance of the now-retired Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri. The samples were obtained from rubber and pineapple plantations across Tripura.

In a renewed study, younger researchers re-collected the specimens, leading to their formal classification and naming.

One of the new species has been named Kanchuria tripuraensis, in honour of the state where it was first discovered. The second species has been named Kanchuria priyasankari, paying tribute to Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri for his four decades of pioneering work in biodiversity research.

“The Eastern Himalaya-Northeastern Hills region is India’s second-richest zone in terms of earthworm diversity. Kanchuria is a genus endemic to this region, previously comprising eight known species. With the discovery of Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria priyasankari, the genus now includes 10 species,” said Dr. Dey.

Explaining the distinction between the two, Dr. Dey noted: “K. tripuraensis is unique among its genus, easily identified by the presence of a single ventromedian spermatheca in segments 7 and 8. Meanwhile, K. priyasankari belongs to the turaensis species group and features three pairs of spermathecal pores. It shows similarities with K. turaensis, but is distinguishable by smaller body dimensions and distinct spermathecal characteristics.”

With this discovery, the total number of Kanchuria species now stands at ten, while the count of megadrile worm species documented in Tripura has increased to 38.

The research is accompanied by detailed descriptions, photographs, and illustrations highlighting the distinctive features of the new species.