Amynthas agrestis (Goto & Hatai, 1899)

Blakemore, Robert J., 2013, Ulleung-do earthworms - Dagelet Island revisited, Journal of Species Research 2 (1), pp. 55-68 : 56

Amynthas agrestis (Goto & Hatai, 1899)

[ Fig. 1 ]

Material examined. IV0000261245, mature specimen from Mt Naribunji providing DNA sample w48. IV0000 261245, two mature specimens from Tongumi (sample also contains two sub-adults that may actually be A. corticis ). IV0000261246, three mature specimens from Tongumi, one a posterior amputee providing DNA sample w49.

Description. Lengths 100-140 mm, segments ca. 105. Light brown dorsum without mid-line, otherwise body grey. Dorsal pores from 11/12 or 12/13. Spermathecal pores 5/6/7/8. Male pores absent. Markings as dark patches on elongate on 7 & paired in 8 in some specimens. Septa 8/9/10 aborted. Holandric, seminal vesicles large in 11 & 12. Ovaries in 13, ovisacs absent. Intestine from 15 with manicate caeca from 27. Gregarines present.

Remarks. Specimens conform to earlier descriptions from Japan and to Song & Paik’s (1969: 14, figs. 1, 8 & 9), their Ulleung-do record thus confirmed. Further work on revision of this taxon is currently in progress in Japan as noted by Blakemore (2012c: 106, 117 and 2013).

Note. It was predicted, based on the spermathecae being similar to those of M. hilgendorfi , that forms of this worm with non-superficial male pores may eventually be found requiring its transfer to genus Metaphire . Moreover, male pores were mistakenly reported on penes (e.g. for Ph.

No. Song & Paik (1969) Hong & Kim (2005) Current study

1? Enchytraeus spp.

2 Pheretima agrestis Amynthas agrestis Amynthas agrestis

3 Pheretima sp. 2 Amynthas baemsagolensis * Amynthas carnosus (inc. A. kimhaeiensis & baemsagolensis ) 4 Pheretima heteropoda Amynthas heteropodus Amynthas corticis (inc. A. heteropodus )

5 Pheretima hupeiensis Amynthas hupeiensis Amynthas hupeiensis

6a Pheretima phaselus (sic) Amynthas phaselus Amynthas maculosus / phaselus (inc. A. serratus ?)

6b Pheretima serrata Amynthas serratus Ditto

7? Amynthas pingi

8 Pheretima hilgendorfi Amynthas hilgendorfi Metaphire hilgendorfi

9 Pheretima sp. 1 Amynthas dageletensis Metaphire soulensis (inc. dageletensis )

10 Allolobophora caliginosa Aporrectodea trapezoids (sic) Aporrectodea trapezoides trapezoides

11 Bimastos parvus (inc. B. beddardi ?)

12? Dendrodrilus rubidus

13 Eisenia foetida Eisenia fetida Eisenia fetida (inc. E. andrei , etc.)

14 Eisenia japonica

Totals 10 10 12-14

Hong & Kim(2005) overlook Hong & James’ (2001) A. kimhaeiensis from Ulleung-do that is now a synonym (with many other names) of A. carnosus 1mm 27 striata) or, when Ph. hataii Ohfuchi, 1937 was included in synonymy, slightly invaginated (i.e.,= Metaphire ). However in newly inspected material (R.J.B. pers. obs.) from Ibaraki-ken conforming to the type-description the male pores were found to be small and superficial in the setal arc below tumid genital markings (as in Amynthas and as shown by Song & Paik, 1969: fig. 1) and thus Metaphire hataii was removed from synonymy by Blakemore (2008a) and Amynthas agrestis reinstated (cf. laps in Blakemore, 2013).

Figures

Fig. 1. Amynthas agrestis: A. specimen showing ventral aspect lacking markings, prostomium with spermathecae in situ and caecum in 27; B. specimen from Jeju-do for comparison(Blakemore, 2013); C. second Ulleung-do specimen with patches on 7 & 8 (indicating amphimixis with concopulants having GMs on 18?). No current specimens have male pores.