Aporrectodea (Örley, 1885)

Plisko, Jadwiga D. & Nxele, Thembeka C., 2015, An annotated key separating foreign earthworm species from the indigenous South African taxa (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Microchaetidae, Ocnerodrilidae and Tritogeniidae), African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 663-663 : 690-691

Genus Aporrectodea (Örley, 1885)

Four species: rosea , longa , caliginosa and trapezoides ; all described under numerous synonymic names. Occur in variable biotopes, with easy adaptation to wide-ranging environmental conditions. 1 First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 4/5, often expelling yellowish white coelomic fluid (not smelly). In life slightly red................... A. rosea Savigny, 1826

Description:Body length 25–120.The openings of male pores between setae b and c variably sized, with large semi-circular glandular tumescens, frequently extending to neighbouring segments. Spermathecal pores present or absent; if present, in 9/10 and 10/11 between lines cd. Clitellum on 24, 25–32, 33. Tubercula pubertatis as continuous bands on 29–31. Seminal vesicles in four segments 9–12 or in two segments 11 and 12. Excretory system holoic, with nephridial bladders U-shaped.

Notes: A synantropic species distributed worldwide. Subsoil, endogeic. Daily cast production of this species was estimated as 71, 85 mg dry mass per 1 g of living mass of the individual ( Csuzdi & Zicsi 2003). Various experimental studies conducted in agricultural production confirmed the beneficial improvement in soil productivity in the presence of A. rosea ( Stephens et al. 1994) . In RSA recorded under various synonymic names from various provinces (Plisko 2010), and occurs abundantly in variable biotopes: pastures, grasslands, forests and agricultural fields. Common in gardens and in cultivated fields. Occurs with other introduced earthworm species of various families. Also found together with indigenous acanthodrilids and microchaetids. Under unfavourable conditions the species may be found in an aestivation state. Bisexual and parthenogenetic reproduction commonly observed.

– First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow behind 4/5 ............................................2 2 First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 8/9 or 9/10............................................3 – First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 12/13 ....................................................4 3 Clitellum on 27, 28–34. Tubercula pubertatis on 31 and 33 as simple tubers separated by transverse furrows in 32....................... A. caliginosa ( Savigny, 1826) Description: Body length 40–150. In life whitish grey, dorsally dark. Male pores with variably shaped tumescens ( Fig. 8C ). Seminal vesicles in four segments, 9–12. Excretory system holoic, with nephridial bladders S-shaped, twisted backwards.

Notes: Palearctic, synantropic, most widely distributed, described under a number of synonyms. Reproduces biparentally, and in parthenogenesis, with morphs common. Recorded broadly in RSA, although it is less common than the dominant trapezoides . Commonly occurs in various biotopes, but is found predominantly in agriculture fields and disturbed environments. Species has adapted widely to a variety of ecosystems. Subsoil.

– Clitellum on 27, 28–34. Tubercula pubertatis on 31–33, 34 as continuous band ……............................................................................ A. trapezoides ( Dugès, 1828) Description: Body length 50–150 mm. Excretory system holoic with S-shaped nephridial bladders.

Notes: Synantropic, described under numerous synonyms, often as a subspecies or a form of caliginosus, from which it differs in the shape of the tubercula pubertatis.Subsoil.In RSA it is the dominant lumbricid, and has been recorded over one hundred times from various biotopes.

4 First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 12/13. Clitellum on 28–34, 35. Tubercula pubertatis on 32–34 as continuous strips............................... A. longa ( Ude, 1885) Description: Body length 120–150 mm. In life dorsally dark. Male pores with prominent glands extending to neighboring segments. Septa 5/6–10/11 thickened. Seminal vesicles in four segments, 9–12. Excretory system holoic with nephridial bladders J-shaped.

Notes: Native to Palearctic, widely distributed worldwide. Synantropic, anecic. Occurs in pastures, gardens and forests. Found only twice in RSA, in garden soil in two distant localities of GP and WC (Plisko 2010).

Figures

Fig.8.Segmentation:(A)Secondary annulation:an anterior part ofMicrochaetus papillatus (Microchaetidae) showing intersegmentalfurrows separating segments, marked bynephridial pores ofholoic nephridia; (B–C) simple: (B) Eudrilus eugeniae (Eudrilidae); (C) Aporrectodea trapezoides (Lumbricidae) showing tubercula pubertatis and male pore with tumescens.