Paper presented at the 52nd CFCS Annual Meeting, Guadeloupe, July 10-16, 2016
INVESTIGATION ON ONE LOCAL EARTHWORM SPECIES IN SURINAME Yvonne Indrani Ramnarain1, Abdullah Adil Ansari2 and Lydia Ori3 1
Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Paramaribo, Suriname. University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana, 3Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname.
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Keywords: Vermicomposting; Amynthas cortices; prostomium; clitellum; spermathecae. Abstract Earthworms are essential soil organisms in maintaining soil fertility and thus are regarded as biological indicators of soil fertility. Earthworms are ecologically classified into epigeics, anecics and endogeics. However, only some species (epigeic and anecic) of earthworms are used for vermicomposting. The present investigations were carried out during the year 2014-2015 on local variety of earthworms hand sorted from Anton de Kom University of Suriname cattle fields for their feasibility to vermi-processing. Species identified belongs to family Megascolecidae and species Amynthas corticis, commonly known as black wriggler or crazy worm. Introduction Approximately 4400 species have been identified in the world however few species are used in the process of vermicomposting. Broadly the earthworms are classified as soil dwelling and composting types. In Suriname little is known of earthworms and their application. Earthworms are soil macro-invertebrates that play a fundamental role in maintaining soil fertility by cycling of nutrients and decomposition of organic matter. They are terrestrial earthworms and scientifically classified under the phylum Annelida and class Oligochaeta. The earthworms are hermaphrodite, segmented worms, bilaterally symmetrical, with an external gland (clitellum) for producing the egg case (cocoon), a sensory lobe in front of the mouth (prostomium), and an anus at the end of the animal body, with a small number of bristles (setae) on each segment. Based on these features the earthworms can be taxonomically classified. In Suriname limited studies have been conducted on earthworm taxonomy hence this research focused on collection and identification of one earthworm species using taxonomic tools directing towards its feasibility for vermicomposting. Materials and Methods The present research was carried out during the year 2014-2015 at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo aiming on identification and classification of local available species of earthworm for the process of vermicomposting. The collection of earthworms was done in different parts of Paramaribo, Wanica and Para by organizing fieldtrips to dairy cattle and agriculture farms. In the dairy cattle farms the earthworms were collected from the heap of cow manure. The local - earthworms were collected from agricultural farms by digging the soil up to approximately 20 to 30 cm at places that showed earthworm activity, by observing the worm castings. Samples were taken from moist soils, gardens and agricultural fields. Digging of the earthworms was done carefully to avoid cutting or killing them. After visualizing the earthworms, the same were placed in a bucket. The locally collected worms were identified according to the morphology. Main Results The species collected was identified to be Anynthas corticis, an exotic species to Suriname that basically feeds on soil (endogeic) and has no role in the process of vermiculture. Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) known as black wriggler, crazy worm or snake worm is the most widely distributed species of the pheretimoid earthworms and is found in many countries in east and southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK, USA, South America and South Africa according to Talavera The black wriggler has a reddish-brownish dorsal pigmentation. They have a single female pore and small paired male pores. The black wriggler is found in human-influenced habitats and live in places that have arable land, pastures and forests up to a depth of 20 cm. or near the surface under litter or other decomposing organic material. They are capable of violent trashing movements, jumping and are very fast moving.
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