Parachilota wahlbergi (Michaelsen, 1899)

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2012, An annotated checklist of the South African Acanthodrilidae (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae: Acanthodrilinae, Benhamiinae), Zootaxa 3458, pp. 4-58 : 43

Parachilota wahlbergi (Michaelsen, 1899)

Chilota wahlbergi Michaelsen, 1899b: 441 .

Chilota wahlbergi: Michaelsen 1900: 147 ; 1912: 146; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 189; NHRS. Chilota wahlbergi f. typicus: Michaelsen 1913c: 416.

Chilota wahlbergi f. pulchrior: Michaelsen 1913c: 416; Pickford 1927: 461; ZMH. Parachilota wahlbergi: Pickford 1937: 336 ; Plisko 2008: 30; BMNH; NMSAD. Udeina wahlbergi: Ljungström 1972b: 108 .

Type locality. Unknown, in RSA. The name ‘Caffraria’ given on original label, translated by Michaelsen (1899) as ‘Kafferlandet’ refers to a name usually understood as ‘South East Africa’, although it may also refers to some other parts of South Africa. (Encyclopaedia Britanica (11th ed., 1911).

Distribution. Known from diverse biotopes, distandly separated sites in three provinces: GT: Witpoort Falls, Krokodile river (for f. pulchior, in Michaelsen 1912). Witpoortje Falls, in wet soil among roots of grass and moss growing behind the spray of the waterfall, refers to Pickford material (1937: 338). MP: Waterval Boven, behind the waterfall in very wet soil with the grass roots and liverworts. Lake Chrissie, Ermelo area, damp turf near the spring. KZN: Farm between Pietermaritzburg and Greytown, at the roots of ferns. Farm Linwood (Vicinity of Midmar Dam), in the temporary pool during dry phase, under the moist rock.

Remarks. Holotype NHRS 164. Syntype ZMH V-7494. Other material: SAMC A20615. NMSA/Olig.03650. It may be noted that the collector of the type material of this species, J.A.Wahlberg, spent some years in Africa travelling and collecting animals and plants. His travels included repeated transits through Cape Town, Durban, large part of Natal including coast to both Umfolozi rivers, Drakensberg, highveld in Transvaal, Megalisberg, Springbok Flats, across Limpopo river and Walvis Bay going to Namibia and Botswana ( Craig & Hummel 1994).