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Two New Earthworm Species Discovered in Tripura: A Milestone in Soil Biodiversity Research
Jun 14, 2025Agartala, June 14: In a remarkable scientific achievement, two new species of earthworms have been discovered in Tripura, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the state. The newly identified species have been named Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria priyasankari. The discovery is the result of a national-level collaborative research effort between scientists from Tripura and Kerala. The team was led by Dr. Animesh Dey, Assistant Professor at the Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Tripura University, along with S. Prasanth Narayanan, R. Paliwal, and other researchers from Kerala.
The first specimens of these species were collected between 2004 and 2010 by Dr. Sabyasachi Nath and Dr. Animesh Dey during their doctoral research under the supervision of renowned earthworm expert Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri (Retd.). The collections were made from rubber and pineapple plantations across the state. Recently, a new generation of young researchers successfully rediscovered the specimens, allowing for formal scientific identification and classification of the species.
The first species, Kanchuria tripuraensis, has been named after the state of Tripura, in recognition of the region where it was first found. The second species, Kanchuria priyasankari, has been named in honor of Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri, acknowledging his over 40 years of dedicated contribution to earthworm research. Prof. Chaudhuri's work has played a key role in placing Tripura on the map in both national and international biodiversity research circles.This discovery not only contributes to the scientific understanding of soil biodiversity but also reinforces the ecological significance of plantation ecosystems in northeastern India. The researchers hope that such findings will encourage further exploration and conservation efforts in the region.
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