First records of terrestrial enchytraeids in Patagonia, South Chile
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25674/521Keywords:
Annelids, potworms, Christensenidrilus, Nothofagus, YendegaiaAbstract
The enchytraeid fauna in South America remains poorly explored despite the continent’s extensive habitat diversity and high level of endemism. As part of PERMACHILE, an international, multidisciplinary, long-term research initiative, a faunistic survey of Chilean Patagonia was initiated to address this knowledge gap. Preliminary results from Yendegaia National Park revealed 15 enchytraeid species, including 14 species recorded for the first time in Chile and Patagonia. Two new species of Achaeta and three new species of Christensenidrilus have also been discovered so far and are to be described elsewhere. The finding of Christensenidrilus is notable as it represents the first record of the genus outside the type locality of the type species in the South Orkney Islands. Although species abundance was generally low, likely due to local environmental conditions, the results demonstrate that Chilean Patagonia harbors considerable undocumented diversity and warrants further faunal research.
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