Pithemera lanyuensis Shen & Tsai, 2002

Wang, Yu-Hsi & Shih, Hsi-Te, 2010, Earthworm fauna of Eastern Taiwan, with descriptions of two new species (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae), Zootaxa 2341, pp. 52-68 : 64

Pithemera lanyuensis Shen & Tsai, 2002

Pithemera lanyuensis Shen & Tsai 2002a: 17 , fig. 1A; Blakemore et al. 2006: 230; Tsai et al. 2009: 38.

Material examined. 1 adult, NCHUZOOL 13523, Basiandong, Changbin, Taitung Co., Taiwan, coll. H.-T. Shih et al., 30 Jan. 2007; 1 adult, NCHUZOOL 13531, 22°02’1.6”N, 121°33’57.7”E, Yeyin, Lanyu, Taitung Co., Taiwan, Y.-H. Wang, 7 Jan. 2008; 2 adults, NCHUZOOL 13532, Kaiyuan Harbor Lighthouse, Lanyu, Taitung Co., Taiwan, Y.-H. Wang, 2 Apr. 2008; 2 adults, NCHUZOOL 13533, Yeyou S. River (= R.), Lanyu, Taitung Co., Taiwan, Y.-H. Wang, 8 Jan. 2008; 5 adults, NCHUZOOL 13534, 22°03’22.5”N, 121°30’3.2”E, Kaiyuan Harbor Lighthouse, Lanyu, Taitung Co., Taiwan, Y.-H. Wang, 6 Jan. 2008.

Diagnosis. Dimensions 29–45 mm, 2.0– 2.7 mm in x, 1.9–2.5 mm in xxx, 2.1–2.9 mm in clitellum. Segments 81–93. Prostomium, epilobic; first dorsal pore at 12/13. Clitellum annular, xiv–xvi 1/2. Spermathecal pores at 4/5–8/9; male pores on xviii, genital markings on xix–xx; female pores, paired on xiv; 8–13 setae between male pores, setae in clitellum in xiv and xv. Septa, 8/9 absent; 9/10–12/13 thick. Gizzard in ix; intestinal origin from xiv; intestinal caeca very small and short, originating in xxii.

Remarks. The numbers of spermathecal pores, clitellum segments, and male pores with genital markings agree with the description of P. lanyuensis Shen & Tsai, 2002 . This species was first described as new from Lanyu, Taitung Co., Taiwan. Our collection from Basiandong, Taitung Co., extends the species distribution to the main island of Taiwan.