Contribution to the knoweldge of earthworm fauna of Chrea National Park (Algeria)
Abstract
H. Zerrouki*, S. Hamil, M. Alili, W. Isserhane and M. Baha
This preliminary study was conducted to identify the different species of earthworms that live in the region of Chréa in north Algeria. A total of 3196 earthworms were sampled and represented by three families: Acanthodrilidae, Megascolecidae, and Lumbricidae. Eleven genera represented by nineteen species are discovered. The individuals were identified to the following taxa: Aporrectodea caliginosa, Allolobophora rosea, Allolobophora cholorotica, Allolobophora antipai, Allolobophora miniscula, Aporrectodea trapezoides, Eiseniella tetraedra, Amynthas sp., Amynthas californica, Microscolex phosphoreus, Criodrilus lacuum, Octodrilus complanatus, Octodrilus maghrebinus triginta, Octodrilus maghribinus maghribinus, Eisenia xylophila, Ocnerodrilus sp, Eisenia andrei, Helodrilus oculatus, Dendrobaena pantaleoni. D. pantaleoni is new record for Algeria. High abundance of earthworms have been recorded under the cork oak, where the soil is rich in organic matter, followed by cedar soils that are characterized by lower organic matter content. Both species A. caliginosa and O. complanatus are absent in a soil poor of organic matter and under Quercus canariensis.