Pithemera levii, Hong & James, 2011

Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2011, New Species Of Pheretima, Pithemera, And Polypheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) From Kalbaryo, Luzon Island, Philippines, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (1), pp. 19-28 : 26

Pithemera levii , new species

( Figs. 7 A–B)

Material examined. – Holotype: One clitellate ( NMA 4391 ), Philippines, Ilocos Norte Province, Pagudpud, Kalbaryo (18°30.94'N 120°54.52'E), 408 m, litter layers in the forest, coll. Y. Hong, A. Castillo & M. Levi, 3 Jun.2001 . Paratypes: 1 clitellate ( NMA 4397 ), 1 clitellate ( KUNHM), 1 clitellate ( NIBR), 1 clitellate ( ZRC), same data as for holotype .

Other material: 7 clitellates and 13 aclitellates, same data as for holotype; 20 clitellates and 4 aclitellates, Kalbaryo (18°33.65'N 127°57.83'E), 239 m, colls. Y. Hong, A. Castillo & M. Levi, 3 Jun.2001 .

Diagnosis. – Four pairs of spermathecal pores in 4/5–7/8; spermathecal and male pores 0.11 and 0.13 circumference ventrally apart, respectively. Large circular genital papillae paired presetal in xviii and xix.

Etymology. – The species is named for the collector of the type material, Mr. Matthew Levi.

Description. – Brown dorsal pigment. Dimensions 50–65 mm by 2.3–2.6 mm at segment x, 2.5–2.7 mm at xxx, 2.5–2.8 mm at clitellum, segments 82–111; body cylindrical in cross-section. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators, numbering 54 at vii, 63 at xx; 6–7 between male pores, size, distance regular; setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 1:1:1:1.5 at xiii. Clitellum annular in xiv–1/2xvi; ventral setae of xvi visible externally.

First dorsal pore in 12/13, four pairs of spermathecal pores in 4/5–7/8 (one worm 4/5, 5/6 only), very close to medio-ventrum, 0.8 mm between spermathecal pores (0.11 circumference ventrally apart). Female pores paired in xiv, on 0.3 mm oval, male pores paired in xviii, on 0.3 mm dark oval, hardened porophores, 1.1 mm between male pores (0.13 circumference ventrally apart); large circular genital papillae paired, presetal in xviii, xix in line with male pores.

Septa 5/6–7/8 thick, 8/9 absent, 9/10–11/12 thick, 12/13, 13/14 thin. Gizzard usual in viii–ix, intestine enlarged from xv; intestinal caeca simple, originating in xxii, and extending anteriorly about to xxi, each consisting of a fingernail-shaped sac; typhlosole medium depth simple fold from xxii. Hearts x–xii esophageal; ix lateral, viii absent. Vessel branches from lateral heart ix to body wall, extends posteriorly to xiv.

Ovaries and funnels in xiii, spermatheca in v–viii (one worm v, vii only); no nephridia on spermathecal ducts; spermatheca with elongate cylindrical ampulla slightly expanded knob at ental end, duct short, diverticulum stalk slender, longer than ampulla; chamber small ovate. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in paired sacs in x, xi, not joined dorsally. Seminal vesicles two pairs in xi, xii without dorsal lobes. Prostates in xvii–xix, 2–3 or more main lobes, prostatic duct with spindle-shaped muscular expansion in ectal half. Glandular tissue on body wall anterior to genital markings in xviii, xix.

Remarks. – Pithemera levii , new species, has one pair of presetal genital papillae in each of xviii and xix, but Pi. bicincta has paired papillae in xviii extending from segments xviii to xix, and one pair of genital papillae just behind male pores at 18/19. Pithemera levii , new species, differs from Pi. violacea and Pi. bicincta in having only four pairs of spermathecae and no intersegmental genital papillae.

Figures

Fig.7. Pithemera levii, new species:A,ventral view;B, spermathecae and diverticulum. Scale bars = 5 mm (A), 1 mm (B).