A new and interesting earthworm species from Madagascar (Crassiclitellata, Kynotidae) with an updated key to the Kynotus Michelsen, 1891 species

A new effort in 2025 to collect earthworms in northern Madagascar resulted in the discovery of a new species of Kynotus, a genus belonging to the endemic family Kynotidae, as well as the rediscovery of K. darwinii, the type species of Kynotus. The latter species had not been collected since its original reports in the late 19 th century. With the description of the new species, Kynotus insularis sp. nov., the family Kynotidae now has 23 species.

New DNA barcode sequences were generated for both species, confirming their distinctness and further demonstrating the high efficiency of the COI barcode region in identifying Kynotus species. An identification key to the currently known kynotid species is also presented.