Metaphire hilgendorfi (Michaelsen, 1892)

Blakemore, Robert J., 2013, Ulleung-do earthworms - Dagelet Island revisited, Journal of Species Research 2 (1), pp. 55-68 : 61-62

Metaphire hilgendorfi (Michaelsen, 1892)

[ Fig. 6 ]

Material examined. IV0000261247, mature specimen from Tongumi, dissected and figured, providing DNA

1 mm

sample w50. IV0000261248, a mature specimen from Arae-tongumi (one of several), its male field figured. IV 0000261249, another mature specimen from Tongumi that lacks male pores and GM on 18. Many other specimens released in the field after identification based on size, genital markings and their escape behaviour.

Description. Length 160-170 mm. Segments ~110. Dorsal pores from 11/12. Spermathecae lateral in 6/7/8. Male pores either absent or present in large invaginated chambers, sometimes everted on blunt penes. GMs circles composed of small discs (up to 20) mid-ventral in 8 and sometimes in 18 too, presetally. Caecae manicate. Many parasites.

Remarks. Despite Blakemore (2003a; 2003b; 2008a) showing that Michaelsen’s taxon belonged in Metaphire rather than Amynthas , it was retained in the latter genus by Hong & Kim (2005) and Hong & James (2009: 1255). However, Song & Paik (1969: 15, tab. 1, figs. 3, 13-14, 28) at least, had already shown that twenty-two out of their twenty-three specimens from Dagelet had both a male pore shown to be inverted and with large prostate glands.

Hong & Kim (2005) make no comment of the state in their 50 specimens, but maintained them in Amynthas presumably on the grounds that the male pores are absent from some specimens or only on one side of the body. Thus presumably one side would belong to genus Amynthas and the other side with male pores would belong to Metaphire under such a scheme (as with A. corticis noted above) which is clearly a ridiculous situation! The current figure agrees with Blakemore (2012c: fig. 3 of “ M. glandularis ”= M. hilgendorfi ); see also Blakemore (2002; 2003a; 2003b; 2010a; 2010b; 2012b; 2012c; 2012d) for clarity on correct generic placement of pheretimoids. Review based on Berlin types is in progress by the author.

Figures

Fig. 6. Metaphire hilgendorfi specimen with invaginated male pore analogue showing ventral aspect, spermathecal and prostate gland in situ, prostomium and manicate caecum; [boxed is a conspecific (and congeneric!) specimen with everted male pore, albeit belonging to Metaphire].