Amynthas maculosus (Hatai, 1930)

Blakemore, Robert J., 2013, Ulleung-do earthworms - Dagelet Island revisited, Journal of Species Research 2 (1), pp. 55-68 : 59-61

Amynthas maculosus / phaselus (Hatai, 1930)

[ Fig. 3 ]

Material examined. INV0000261240, mature specimen from Naribunji providing DNA sample w45. INV00002 61241, two other Naribunji specimens agreeing superficially.

Description. Length 85-110 mm, segments ca. 100. Colour dark on dorsum. First dorsal pore 12/13 (present on clitellum in two of three specimens). Spermathecae in 5/ 6/7/8. Male pore in centres of small circular discs or pads on 18. No GMs. Septa aborted in 8/9/10 around gizzard. Spermathecae with corrugated ampullae and clavate diverticula in 6-8. Commissurals in 6 & 9, hearts in 10-13. Holandric, testis in sac in 10, free in 11; seminal vesicles in 11 & 12 with pseudovesicles in 13. Ovaries in 13, no ovisacs. Oesophagus dilated in 12 & 13, narrow in 14; intestine from 15 with ventrally incised caeca from 27 where dorsal septal glands also commence. Gregarines present.

Remarks. Both Ph. phaselus Hatai, 1930 and Ph. serrata Kobayashi, 1936 were described as present on Ulleung-do by Song & Paik (1969: 16), this parroted by Hong & Kim (2005: 131). Since neither seemed to realize that the seni- or synonym was originally described from Japan, both have: “ Distribution: Korea, China ”. Ph. serrata Kobayashi, 1936 was placed in synonymy of Ph. kamitai Kobayashi, 1934 by Kobayashi (1937: 146), and it was referr- ed to as Ph. phaselus var. kamitai by Kobayashi (1938: 411) and by Song & Paik (1970: 11) whereas Song & Paik (1969: 16, figs. 5, 18, 19 & 20) reported it as just Ph. phaselus (sic) and Song & Paik (1969, 16, figs. 6, 22-27) attempted to maintain Ph. serrata separately. Blakemore (2013) includes? Pheretima phaselus tamurai Kobayashi, 1938 , Pheretima mutica Chen, 1938 and A. minjae Hong, 2001 in synonymy of A. maculosus (Hatai, 1930) while noting that this taxon requires comparison with A. phaselus (in progress). These names require further work after the relationship of A. phaselus (Hatai, 1930) to A. maculosus (Hatai, 1930) is resolved ( Blakemore, 2012c; 2012, in prep.) so they are here combined temporarily.

? Amynthas pingi (Stephenson, 1925)

[ Figs. 4 , 5]

Material examined. INV000261262, an anomalous Naribunji specimen dissected and providing DNA sample

w54 that was, nevertheless, ambiguous (Appendix).

Description. The specimen was slightly larger (215 mm) with darker brown pigmentation, its spermathecal pores were anterior to intersegments and its GMs are as figur- ed ( Fig. 4 ). It has septal glands pronounced from 15 and appears somewhat intermediate between A. carnosus and A. pingi compared to other Ulleung-do specimens that were more like A. carnosus proper.

Remarks. Its DNA data is ambivalent with no close match yet from Korea nor elsewhere (Appendix, Fig. 5) thus it is provisionally placed in a restored A. pingi , the next prior synonym of A. carnosus . The phylogram shows separation from A. carnosus , interestingly, of the two large and darker specimens (w55 & w56) but it is unlikely that heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA in aging cells of older specimens would so greatly affected the result.

This Ullong-do specimen requires comparison with the type of A. pingi and with other synonyms in chronologi-

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Ulleung-do LargeAcarnosusIncheon300 GreenMquelpartaJejubotgars

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Fig. 5. Phylogram reconstructed by maximum likelihood defaults (via MEGA 5) of mtDNA barcodes for Ulleung-do w54 A. carnosus / pingi compared to other Korean Amynthas carnosus -like material (outgroup is WO 66 M. quelparta from Blakemore, 2013: fig. 4).

cal order. Results of the author’s current Korean/Japanese studies are pending and delayed whilst new names seem to be continually added with little consideration of a thorough review nor appreciation of types and priority.

Figures

Fig. 3. Amynthas maculosus/phaselus showing ventral aspect, prostomium and pygidium; caeca and reproductive organs in situ; [boxed enlargement of spermathecal and male pore].

Fig. 4.?Amynthas pingi specimen showing spermathecal (8lhs) and male fields.