Which of the following is NOT an epigeic earthworm species?

The correct answer is Metaphire posthuma.

Key Points

• Epigeic earthworms live in areas containing high amounts of organic matter.
• They live at or near the soil surface and feed on leaf litter, decaying plant roots or dung.
• These earthworms do not form permanent burrows.
• Epigeic species tend to have dark skin colour (pigmentation).
• Epigeic species tend to be small (1 – 18 cm) in length.

Examples of Epigeic earthworms:

• Dendrobaena veneta
• Dendrobaena hortensis
• Dendrobaena octaedra
• Eisenia fetida
• Eisenia andrei
• Dendrodrilus rubidus
• Eiseniella tetraedra
• Eudrilus eugeniae
• Allolobophoridella eiseni

​Metaphire posthuma is an endogeic geophagous earthworm.

Therefore, the correct answer is Metaphire posthuma.