Microchaetus tuberosus Plisko, 1998

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2003, Eleven new South African earthworms (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) with new information on some known species, and an inventory of the microchaetids of KwaZulu-Natal, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 279-325 : 291-292

Microchaetus tuberosus Plisko, 1998

Microchaetus tuberosus Plisko, 1998: 290 .

Material examined: KwaZulu­Natal: NMSA / Olig. 03497 Port Shepstone , Armidale farm (30º39'39"S: 30º30'19"E) at 102 m, recently burnt grassland, many herbs, patch at summit of dune, damp sandy soil, 4 November 2001, 5 cl , AJA, HM [associated with Microchaetus parvus ]. NMSA / Olig. 03630 Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (30º43'49"S: 30º16'22"E) summit at 451 m, grassland, 25 June 2002, 4 juv [in quiescent phase, without soil in the gut, posteriorly transparently reddish] , AJA, D. J. Craigie, BK, L. Mnguni . NMSA / Olig. 03631 Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (30º43'50"S: 30º16'24"E) east facing slope at 451 m, grassland/forest border, 25 June 2002, 1 cl + 1 juv , AJA, D. J. Craigie, BK, L. Mnguni [associated with Pontoscolex corethrurus ( Müller, 1857) ]. Mbumbazi Nature Reserve : NMSA / Olig. 03405 (30º47'42"S: 30º16'41"E) hillside, in forest on path, 27 March 2001, 1 with tubercula pubertatis , AJA, BK; NMSA / Olig. 03404 (30º47'45"S: 30º16'35"E) hillside, in forest near stream, 27 March 2001, 5 juv , AJA, BK; NMSA / Olig. 03399 (30º47'45"S: 30º16'43"E) hillside, in forest, 27 March 2001, 5 with tubercula pubertatis , AJA, BK; NMSA / Olig. 03396 (30º48'06"S: 30º16'30"E) hillside, under tall grass, along road, 26 March 2001, 5 juv , AJA, BK; NMSA / Olig. 03397 (30º48'06"S: 30º16'30"E) hillside, under tall grass, along road, 26 March 2001, 4 with tubercula pubertatis , AJA, BK; NMSA / Olig. 03519 (30º48'09"S: 30º16'47"E) at 372 m, sparse medium­high grass with shrubs and herbs, top layer soil, under casts, 5 November 2001, 3 not fully mature , AJA, HM; NMSA / Olig. 03518 (30º48'12"S: 30º16'47"E) hillside, recently burnt tall grass, between grass roots, damp soil, 5 November 2001, 11 juv , AJA, HM; NMSA / Olig. 03517 (30º48'12"S: 30º16'47"E) hillside, recently burnt tall grass, under grass roots, damp soil, 5 November 2001, 7 cl [much longer and with more segments than type material, and with various number and shape of spermathecae: 1–3 pairs per segment] , AJA, HM. Umtamvuna Nature Reserve : NMSA / Olig. 03406 (30º59'54"S: 30º09'48"E) plateau, in vlei, medium­tall graminoids, 29 March 2001, 11 juv , AJA, BK; plateau, in vlei under medium graminoids (30º59'55"S: 30º09'48"E) : NMSA / Olig. 03409, 1 cl , NMSA / Olig. 03410, 8 juv , NMSA / Olig. 03411, 2 cocoons, collected 29 March 2001 by AJA, BK, [associated with acanthodrilid of the genus Parachilota ].

Remarks: A species described from the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and known from various places in its vicinity ( Fig. 1 ). Present records extend the known range of the species to coastal lowlands in southern KZN. At some sites the species was associated with parvus , with an indigenous acanthodrilid of the genus Parachilota , or with the exotic glossoscolecid Pontoscolex corethrurus ( Müller, 1857) .

Figures

Fig. 1. The distribution of species of Microchaetus and Michalakus in KZN. Microchaetus: 1 = ambitus; 2 = caementerii; 3 = distasmosus; 4 = griphus; 5 = herberti; 6 = idechoritus; 7 = mkuzi; 8 = natalensis; 9 = papillatus; 10 = parvus; 11 = pondoanus; 12 = quaerus; 13 = tuberosus; 14 = vernoni; 15 = zaloumisi; 16 = Michalakus initus.