Earthworms from southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

BURELA S. & N.J. CAZZANIGA

MEGADRILOGICA

Lugar: Canadá; Año: 2001 vol. 8 p. 49 - 52

0380-9633

This paper reports the results of a collection of earthworms from the semiarid region in southwestern Buenos Aires province. Eight species were identified in Bahía Blanca city and neighbouring towns; four of them have also colonized wild environments. They are mostly peregrine, endogeic earthworm species, with a preponderance of species in the family Lumbricidae. Bellladrilus jimi (Ocnerodrilidae) is recorded for the first time from the province, whereas the remaining seven species are cited for the first time for its semiarid southwestern area. Microscolex dubius (Acanthodrilidae) is the earthworm showing the widest realized ecological niche, since it occurs in the highest number of localities and circumstances, even under adverse conditions, such as dry, sandy or salty soils.