• With this discovery, the total number of Drawida species in India has increased to 83, including 55 species in the Western Ghats. Kerala leads with 31 species, of which 16 are endemic.

About Drawida vazhania:
Publication: The discovery was published in the international journal Zootaxa, adding to the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, a global hotspot.
Taxonomic Classification: The species belongs to the genus Drawida under the family Moniligastridae and is part of the Barwelli group.

• The genus is widely distributed across South, Southeast, and East Asia in tropical regions.

Biological Features: The species is identified by unique anatomical traits such as a grooved male genital field, bean-shaped prostate gland, and specialised reproductive structures.
Significance: India is one of the most diverse countries for earthworms, with about 71% of genera and 89% of species endemic. The Western Ghats and west coast plains together account for nearly 58.4% of India’s earthworm diversity.