Pheretima makilingensis, Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2008

Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2008, Three new earthworms of the genus Pheretima (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Mt. Makiling, Luzon Island, Philippines, Zootaxa 1695, pp. 45-52 : 46

Pheretima makilingensis sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 A–B)

Material. Holotype: Clitellate specimen (NMA 004196): Philippines, Laguna Province, Mt. Makiling trail, 950 m, soil, 6 February 2001, S. W. James coll.

Etymology. The species is named for its type locality.

Description. Light brown ventral and dorsal pigment. Dimensions 110 mm by 4.2 mm at segment X, 4.0 mm at xxx, 3.0 mm at clitellum, segments 98; body flattened during preservation. Setae numbering 35 at VII, 44 at XX; 8 between male pores, size and spacing equal on dorsum and ventrum, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ= 3:2.5:2.5:4 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI; setae invisible externally.

First dorsal pore 11/12. One pair of spermathecal pores in 5/6 at 7th setal line with pores inside segmental furrow, spermathecal pores 0.15 circumference ventrally apart, 0.5 mm diameter openings of copulatory bursae paired in XVIII at 7th setal line, openings 0.17 circumference ventrally apart. Female pore single in XIV. Genital markings lacking.

Septa 5/6–7/8 thinly muscular, 8/9 and 9/10 absent, 10/11–13/14 thin but tough. Gizzard in VIII–X, intestine begins in XVI, medium paired lymph glands from XXVII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple, originating in XXVII and extending anteriorly about to XXIV, horn-shaped sac with smooth margins; typhlosole simple fold 1/5 lumen diameter from XXVII, 18–20 longitudinal blood vessels in intestinal wall. Hearts in X–XIII esophageal.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII. Spermathecae in VI with nephridia on spermathecal ducts; spermatheca with flattened oval ampulla, slightly muscular duct shorter than ampulla; diverticulum stalk short, diverticulum chamber globular to ovate, longer than ampulla, iridescent. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X–XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI–XII, small dorsal lobes digitate in dorsal clefts. Prostates in XVI–XVIII, gland a single racemose mass with fan-shaped array of ductlets joining straight, non-muscular duct, ducts entering copulatory bursae just anterior to center of dorsal surface of bursae. Copulatory bursae triangular, broader at posterior edge; no stalked glands, opening flanked by small anterior and large posterior pads. Large posterior pad on posterior inner bursal wall attached to adjacent glandular tissue, more glandular tissue in anterior of bursa with anterior small pad; penis angular bump with divided knobby tip, large opening between knobs.

Remarks. Pheretima makilingensis sp. nov. keys to the urceolata group in Sims & Easton (1972) which is now composed of eight species: P. urceolata Horst, 1893 , P. b a w e a n e n s i s Michaelsen, 1924 (placed in synonymy of P. urceolata by Gates (1961), P. baletei James, 2004 , P. bukidnonensis James, 2004 , P. h e a n e y i James, 2004, P. kitangladensis James, 2004 , P. monotheca James, 2004 , and P. s i m s i James and Hong, 2004. Pheretima makilingensis sp. nov. is similar to P. kitangladensis James, 2004 by the number of hearts (X– XIII), length (108 mm for the latter), number of setae between male pores, and intestinal origin in XVI. Pheretima makilingensis sp. nov. lacks septa 8/9 and 9/10, but P. kitangladensis has septum 8/9. The bursal pads of P. makilingensis are on the floor and posterior wall rather than on the roof as in P. kitangladensis , and the penis of the latter is a transverse ridge. The spermathecae are also different; P. kitangladensis has a longer diverticulum stalk and relatively smaller diverticulum chamber.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pheretima makilingensis sp. nov. A: ventral view; B: spermathecae. Scale bars = 3 mm (A), 2 mm (B).