Résumé
During 40 years of active research, G. Righi published 85 papers on earthworm taxonomy, 5 on earthworm physiology, 5 on earthworm ecology and 3 on earthworm biogeography. In addition he published 16 papers on microdrile oligochaetes, and 17 on other groups (mainly crustaceans and molluscs). Most of his megadrile taxonomical papers related to Brazilian earthworms, although he also studied earthworms from other South and Central American countries (Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica,) and some Lower Antilles. G. Righi described one family, 25 genera and 224 species, mainly from Brazil (139 spp. in 16 genera), Colombia (36 spp., 5 genera) and Venezuela (24 spp., 2 genera). The majority of these new taxa belong to the Family Glossoscolecidae (161 spp, 14 genera). Analysis of the taxonomic production of G. Righi reveals a description rate of 6.4 species per year. This paper discusses the possibility of a complete worldwide species inventory, considering Righi's rate of new species description.