Eisenia foetida (Savigny, 1826)

Description – External – Body length 26 – 130 mm, diameter 2 – 4 mm, 60 – 120 segments. Colour dark violet sometimes alternating stripes of darker segmental with paler intersegmental areas. Head epilobous, first dorsal pore in (3/4), 5/6. Glandular tumescence usually on 9, 10, 11 abcd. Setae closely paired. Clitellum extends on segments (24), 25, 26, 27 – 31, 32, (33 ) saddle–shaped. Tubercles usually on 1/2 28, 28 – 30, 31. Male pore on 15 between setae bc, surrounded by a glandular crescent, frequently protruding into the neighbouring segments.

Internal – Dissepiments 6/7–8/9 slightly thickened. Crop in 15–16, gizzards in 17–18. Two pairs of testes free in 10, 11, and four pairs of seminal vesicles in 9–12. Spermathecae two pairs in 9/10, 10/11 open in the mid–dorsal line. Calciferous glands in 10–12 without distinct diverticula. Excretory system holonephridial. Nephridial bladders simple, sausage-shaped. Cross section of longitudinal muscle layer are of pinnate type.

Remarks – This species is introduced by man into many part of the world shows high character variability.

Distribution – The original range of this species supposed to be in Central Asia where it was an epigeic species. Its present range comprises Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.