TABLE 1. A detailed comparison of the features of the Barwelli species group, including the new speciesCharactersD. barwelli (Beddard, 1886) 1, 2,3, 4D. beddardii (Rosa, 1890) 2, 4, 5, 6,7, 8D. rara Gates, 1925 6, 9D. constricta Gates, 1929 6, 7, 10D. spissata Gates, 1930 6, 11D. delicata * Gates, 1962 6, 11, 12D. vazhania Ardra & Narayanan, sp. nov.Length25–44 mm24–120 mm35–80 mm73–110 mm90–130 mm23–27 mm21–39 mmWidth1.35–2.23 mm2–5 mm3–4 mm3–4½ mm5–7 mm2 mm2.5–4.5 mmSegments89–119117–188154148–196159?106–146ColourUnpigmentedYellow-brown or white (unpigmented)White (unpigmented)White (unpigmented)UnpigmentedGreyish or blueishLight grey dorsum, whitish ventrum (unpigmented)Dorsal poresAbsentPresentAbsent?Absent?AbsentClitellum10–13 (= 4)9–14 (= 6)10–13 (= 4)10–13, 14 (= 4, 5)??½9–½14 (= 5)Spermathecal poresConcealed in furrow at cLarge slits at or median to cdMedian to cMedian to cAt cClose to c (?)Large slits at cMale pore locationOn small, eversible penes, penes usually retracted male apertures, between bcOn short tubular penes pointing forward (length a little more than half the segment), between bcUsually on slight teat-like protuberances, between bcOn rather conical porophores, between bcOn conical anteriorly directed porophores, between bcOn anteriomesially directed porophores, between bcOn short tubular penes, usually concealed within aperture; between bcGenital markings/ tumescenceWhitened pads anterior and posterior to secondary male apertureWhitened areas of epidermal thickenings, in front and behind male poresPresent, usually whitened epidermal thickenings in segments 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11Present, whitened areas of epidermal thickenings in segments 10, 11, occasionally on 7, 8, 12.Present, in segments 8 and circular lips on 10 marked by a deep grooveAbsent, epidermis whitened in bc between equators of 10/11Present, irregularshaped epidermal thickening, together a flower-like impression, with grooves, in 10 and 11No. of gizzards (within segments)Three (in 14–16)Three to six (in 12–20)Three to five (in 12–18)Two to four (in 13–18)Four to five (in 17–21)Four (in 12–15)Three to four (in 12–16)Intestine begins?24±123±1 24, 25??20±1Vas deferens; joins prostate at itsThin delicate and much coiled; middleQuite short, S-shaped and not twisted; subentallyRather short, slender; about at the centre of prostateRather short, slender; ental endVery long, thickened portion in a cluster of long loops, three times larger than testis sac; ental endLong, in a cluster of loops, as large as testis sac; towards ectal endVery long, coiled into a large mass, smaller than testis sac; middle portionProstatesGlandular, erect, cotton-like with penial chamberGlandular, digitiform, not usually long, gland lack at ectal endSessile, circular, discoidal to domes-shapedShort, erectGlandular, very long, coiled, loopedGlandular, erect, berry-shaped with fine ductGlandular, kidney-shaped, dome-shaped muscular ectal end (penial chamber)Prostatic capsuleDigitiformDigitiform, erect or bentSmall, spindle-shaped in parietesClub-shaped, narrowed ectally, bentDigitiformDigitiform or club-shapedNarrow, round tubular, CshapedSpermathecal ductLong, slender, coiled and contortedSimple and quiet straightDuct slightly thickened ectallyDuct slightly thickened ectallyVery long, muscular, ectal portion strongly muscularShort, straight with only one loop, thickness three to four times towards ectal endFairly short, thick with two or three loopsSpermathecal atriumSmall, sphericalSmall simple widening of ectal end of duct, conical-, pinecone-shaped, mostly confined to parietesAbsent, slight enlargement duct ectallyAbsent, slight enlargment duct ectallyAbsentAbsentSmall, sessile on body wall, about oval-shaped, longitudinally placedOvisacsPresent, extends in three to eight segments in 11–18Present, in segment 12???Present, in 12Present, extends in segments 12–13DistributionAustralia, Bahamas, Chile, Cuba, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, New Caledonia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore, Taiwan, TongaIndia, Myanmar, South Korea, Thailand, VietnamMyanmarIndia, MyanmarMyanmarMyanmarIndia......continued on the next pageData from: 1 Shen (2018); 2 Shen et al. (2018); 3 Shen et al. (2025); 4 Narayanan et al. (2023a); 5 Rosa (1890); 6 Gates (1972), 7 Julka (1981); 8 Chen (1938); 9 Gates (1925); 10 Gates (1929); 11 Gates (1930); 12 Gates (1962); * Refer to the subheading ‘remarks' on the addition of D. delicata in Barwelli group.