Dendrobaena sp.

Blakemore, Robert J., 2013, Jeju-do earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea) - Quelpart Island revisited, Journal of Species Research 2 (1), pp. 15-54 : 39-41

Dendrobaena sp. ?

Material examined. IV0000249923 a mature specimen collected from Hyomyungsa Temple on Mt Halla 16 th

40 JOURNAL OF SPECIES RESEARCH Vol. 2, No. 1

5 10 8/9 15 20 27 27 1 mm

Feb., 2012 by RJB (providing DNA sample WM10 as “ Dendrobaena cf. attemsi ” that was mixed in the lab with specimen of E. japonica from NZ in Blakemore (2012c); redone as w1 that has yet to provide a result).

Remarks. Pale lumbricid, 62 mm long, with segment 9 tumid laterally and 16 ventrally; clitellum 27-33, with tubercula pubertates wide in 29-32. Currently unidentified.

A B

1 mm 1 mm

? Eisenia andrei Bouché, 1972

[ Fig. 16A ]

Material examined. IV0000249915 mature specimen providing DNA sample (WM18 with nil result, redone as WO12 and as w11 to recheck). From Hamdeok, Sewoobyong beach, Jeju-si , Jocheon-eup , Hamdoek-ri (N33̊30′ E126̊30′) north coast of Jeju-do Island. Collected by R. J. Blakemore, 15 th Feb. 2012 from sandy parkland behind shops on beachfront, under logs and stones along with many other introduced lumbricids, pheretimoids, and an ocnerodrilid .

Remark. DNA sample WO12 returned a megaBLAST result of 100% for both E. fetida and for E. andrei (GenBank Nos GU013883.1, FJ214228.1, AY874508.1). Thus E. andrei is very tentatively included in the Jeju list. However, there are a dozen species names with priority over the E. andrei associated with E. fetida and no DNA analysis has yet used types of either taxon to definitively prove their differences. These two species are thus in serious need of revision worldwide. Hong et al. (2001) claimed it from Korean vermiculture based solely on supposed color differences from E. fetida , however E. fetida colour varies greatly and, as noted in its description below, there in no DNA evidence based on types to determine whether on not the name andrei takes priority from the dozen or so synonyms of E. fetida .

Figures

Fig. 16. A Eisenia fetida/andrei specimen providing DNA sample (WM18) ventral view plus prostomium, calciferous glands in 11 & 12, some nephridia(13 & 20) and the spermathecae in situ in 9 & 10; lateral views show pale patch near 9 and tubercula pubertates in 28-31. B Eisenia fetida/andrei specimen providing DNA sample (WO7=w62) for comparison.