A new species of the genus Hoplochaetella Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Octochaetidae) from the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone, India.

A new species Hoplochaetella darwini sp. nov. is described from the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone of South Indian State, Tamil Nadu. The new species is distinguished from all known Hoplochaetella species by having only one pair of spermathecal pores in segment 7, and a combination of male and prostatic pores in segment 17. The canonical analysis of principal coordinates also supported the proposed new species, showing significant differences with other members of the genus based on the taxonomical characters such as the number and position of spermathecae and prostate glands. Furthermore, an identification key and updated checklist of known species in the genus are also presented along with updated locality details.

A new species of the genus Eutyphoeus Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from the North-Eastern Biogeographic Zone, India.

A new species of the genus Eutyphoeus is described herein from the material collected from Assam, the North-eastern region of India. The new species Eutyphoeus dhubriensis sp. nov. belongs to a group of avestibulate, metandric species, with bidiverticulate spermathecae, lacking lateral intestinal caecae. The proposed species is distinguished from its congeners by the shape, position of genital markings and associated glands, as well as number and position of ventral intestinal caecae and supra-intestinal glands.

Ecological adaptation of earthworms for coping with plant polyphenols, heavy metals, and microplastics in the soil: A review.

In recent years, soil pollution by massive accumulation of heavy metals (HMs), microplastics, and refractory hydrocarbon chemicals has become an emerging and global concern, drawing worldwide attention. These pollutants influence soil diversity by hindering the reproduction, abundance, thereby affecting aboveground productivity. The scientific community has recently emphasized the contribution of earthworms to heavy metal accumulation, microplastic degradation, and the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, which helps maintain the soil structure. This review paper aimed to compile scientific facts on how earthworms cope with the effect of HMs, microplastics, and plant polyphenols so that vermiremediation could be widely applied for well-being of the soil ecosystem by environmentalists. Earthworms have special surface-active metabolites in their guts called drilodefensins that help them defend themselves against the oxidative action of plant polyphenols. They also combat the effects of toxic microplastics, and other oxidative compounds by elevating the antioxidant activities of their enzymes and converting them into harmless compounds or useful nutrients. Moreover, earthworms also act as biofilters, bioindicators, bioaccumulators, and transformers of oxidative polyphenols, microplastics, toxic HMs, and other pollutant hydrocarbons. Microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) in earthworms' gut of also assist in the fixation, accumulation, and transformation of these toxicants to prevent their effects. As a potential organism for application in ecotoxicology, it is recommended to propagate earthworms in agricultural fields; isolate, and culture enormously in industry, and inoculate earthworms in the polluted soil, thereby abate toxicity and minimizing the health effect caused by these pollutants as well enhance the productivity of crops.