Eisenia japonica japonica (Michaelsen, 1892)

Blakemore, Robert J., 2012, On Schmarda’s lost earthworm and some newly found New Zealand species (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Lumbricidae, Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae, & Megascolecidae s. stricto), Journal of Species Research 1 (2), pp. 105-132 : 109-110

Eisenia japonica japonica (Michaelsen, 1892)

[Fig. 3]

This taxon and its sub-species are reviewed in detail by Blakemore (2003, 2010b) and in Blakemore & Grygier (2011) based on German types and fresh Japanese material. The NZ specimen is described below for comparison.

Distribution. Possibly endemic to Japan (Hokkaido to Kyushu) and Korea, or to China and Siberia where it is listed in a Red Data Book of the Russian Federation from Sakhalin Island; introduced to Taiwan, there is a single record from Germany plus an unconfirmed report from Slovakia. No previous records are from Australasia.

Material examined. Specimen ( AMNZ86031 ) from Waiotapu-Ngapouri, immediately behind the Arataki Honey processing yards in a midgy, waterlogged paddock (S38̊ 20.447 E 176̊21.654; Grid ref. ca. NZtopo50 BF 37934511, 400 m AMSL, from www.waikatoregion.gov.nz/PageFiles/ 20544/1.3Waiotapu.pdf: pg 108 with vegetation data) adjacent to a geothermal pool (soil pH 4.7, 23.5̊C). Collector, RJB, 28 th Nov. 2011. Sample also contains an unidentified immature lumbricid ( AMNZ86032 ) for which DNA is pending .

Description of NZ specimen. Body circular in section, 41 mm long with 121 segments (11/12 and 33-34 slightly irregular/damaged); unpigmented and transparent in posterior and ventrum, pink anteriorly and puce dorsally, clitellum buff, saddle-shaped in ½23,24-31 with TPs prominent on 27 & 29. Prostomium open epilobous.

Setae lumbricine with ventrally tumidity around ab on 14, 21, 25, 26, and slightly in 29-31. Dorsal pores minute in 3/4, open from 4/5. Nephropores in mid-bc in 8-12, 15-16rhs, 19-21 and above d in other segments (especially obvious on clitellum). Spermathecae in 9/10/ 11 in setal c lines. Female pores on 14 lateral to b setae. Male pores small on 15 in mid-bc.

Internally, septa are not especially thickened. Commissurals are in 7 (and 8?), hearts in (8),9-10 but not clearly found in 11. Holandric with testis iridescent and free in 10 & 11, seminal vesicles small in 9 and 10 and larger in 12. Spermathecae are lateral in 9 & 10. Ovaries and funnels are in 13; no ovisacs noted in 14. Annular calciferous glands are in 11 & 12. The intestinal crop is in 15- 16, the muscular gizzard occupies 17-18 with a low typhlosole developing soon after. Nephridia are vesiculate, the bladders sausage shaped.

mtDNA results. Unfortunately, results for syntypes failed and the Arataki sample WM6 was contaminated (resamples as WO8 and WO9 also failed), but data for Japanese topotypic and other specimens of E. japonica from National Museum of Nature & Science, Tokyo (hereafter NSMT) An-415 & An-417 (detailed in http://ibol.org) are given in Appendix I .

Remarks. Albeit manifestly different in other regards, the markings when prominent in 27 & 29 in E. japonica sub-species are reminiscent to those in 28 & 30 in Allolobophora cupulifera Tétry, 1937 . The Arataki specimen from NZ complies with previous descriptions of A.

japonica japonica (its DNA sample was contaminated or mixed up).

A distinct specimen (NSMT An-415) from Hodogaya shows molecular similarity no better than 93% with (NSMT An-417) topotype from Enoshima, confirming my initial reservation of its inclusion and indicating, moreover, that speciation and divergence has already occurred within native (or introduced?) populations in Japan. The opportunity is here taken to formally name and briefly describe this specimen, comparing it to the Arataki specimen of E. japonica and to E. anzac Blakemore, 2011 , as follows.