LAUSR

The paper describes the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa caliginosa (Savigny, 1826) of class Clitellata, order Opisthopora and family Lumbricidae, from Kashmir Valley, Jammu & Kashmir, India.  Previously the species was recorded from Himachal Pradesh, and in the present study the species is reported from Gulmarg forest within the geographical coordinates of (34.0500N & 74.3880E).  During the study the seasonal variation of A.c. caliginosa in terms of density and biomass along with the soil physiochemical characteristics were reported.  A.c. caliginosa showed significant variation in density (t=3.34, p<0.044) and biomass (t=3.40, p<0.042) among different seasons, with maximum density (129.6/m2) and biomass (26.90g/m2) during spring, and minimal values of 34.33/m2 and 6.94g/m2 during winter respectively.  Soil physiochemical characteristics also varied significantly among seasons.