Abstract

FRAGOSO, Carlos  and  ROJAS, Patricia. Biodiversity of earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Crassiclitellata) in Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2014, vol.85, suppl., pp.S197-S207. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.7550/rmb.33581.

An update of the Mexican earthworm fauna points out 102 described species, 51 natives and 51 exotics. In the IEOL collection of earthworms of the INECOL, there are non-described species (c. 40 spp.), which gives a conservative figure of 91 native species. We estimate that the native species richness should be around 130 species, although this number could be higher with the use of molecular techniques. Natives dominated in natural ecosystems (71% of records) and they were scarce in disturbed, human managed sites. Nearly 41% of native species were restricted to natural, relatively undisturbed ecosystems. Exotics were generally associated to disturbed ecosystems, although in temperate forests they were particularly common. The states with the highest number of earthworms were Veracruz (70 spp.), Chiapas (35), Tamaulipas (27), Tabasco (26) and D. F. (25). In the group of exotics the more common species was Pontoscolex corethrurus; and among the natives Balanteodrilus pearsei. The rate of description of new species indicates that the period 1991-1995 had the highest amount of discoveries (13).

Keywords : terrestrial oligochaetes; natives; exotics; Acanthodrilidae; Megascolecidae; Ocnerodrilidae; Lumbricidae.

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