The Megadrile Fauna (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of Queen Elizabeth Park, South Africa: Species Composition and Distribution within Different Vegetation Types

Abstract

A recent survey in selected habitat types in Queen Elizabeth Park (protected area for more than 50 years) resulted in the recording of 1127 specimens of nine earthworm species inhabiting the park, of which only one microchaetid Tritogenia howickiana is indigenous to South Africa. The other eight species are peregrine, widely introduced, and belong to four families: Megascolecidae (Amynthas aeruginosus, Amynthas corticis, Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas minimus and Amynthas rodericensis), Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Lumbricidae (Octolasion lacteum) and Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiinae (Dichogaster saliens). The most abundant are megascolecids (883 specimens), dominating in all vegetation types. Although coexistence of exotic species with indigenous species is noted, a decline in the endemics and dominance by exotics was observed.