Metaphire baruana ( Stephenson, 1932 )

Bantaowong, Ueangfa, Chanabun, Ratmanee, James, Samuel W. & Panha, Somsak, 2016, Seven new species of the earthworm genus Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972 from Thailand (Clitellata: Megascolecidae), Zootaxa 4117 (1), pp. 63-84 : 68

Metaphire baruana ( Stephenson, 1932)

( Figure 4 , Table 1 )

Amyntas bosschae Horst, 1893 sensu Beddard 1900: 892 , nec Horst ( Stephenson 1932). Pheretima baruana Stephenson, 1932: 209 –211, Fig. 3 .

Metaphire baruana (Stephenson) . Sims & Easton 1972: 239.

Material examined. Lectotype NHMUK 1924.10.5.14.1 (designated herein). The type locality is Khota Baru, Malay Peninsula. Paralectotype: one semi-clitellate ( NHMUK 1924.10.5.14.2), same locality as lectotype.

Diagnosis. Medium, length 115–132 mm with 118–127 segments. Male pores on prominent protuberances on XVIII, genital markings on the inner slope of the left male porophore. Spermathecal pores paired at 5/6–8/9, spermathecal ampulla pear-shaped, diverticulum slender with small ovoid knob. No nephridia on the spermathecal ducts. Holandric, intestinal caeca simple, first dorsal pore in 12/13. Prostate glands large, genital marking glands sessile.

Remarks. Beddard's record of " Amyntas bosschae " was based on an unspecified number of individuals ( Beddard 1900). Stephenson (1932: 209) found "Two specimens, both of which had been opened", and recognized them as belonging to a new species. His detailed description was mainly based on one specimen, the larger one of the two, "which may be considered as the type " (ibid.). Since this may not be understood as an explicit type designation, we designate this specimen as lectotype, and the other sub-adult specimen as paralectotype. The lectotype is illustrated in Fig. 4 .

Khota Baru, northern Malaysia, the type locality of M. baruana , is quite close to Songkhla, south Thailand, the type locality of M. songkhlaensis sp. n. However, the distinct genital markings in the male pores area of M. baruana are absent in M. songkhlaensis sp. n., this being the most significant difference of the new species to M. baruana .

This species is known only from its type locality in Kota Bharu, north-eastern Malaysia.

Figures

FIGURE 3. External and internal morphology of Metaphire pulauensis (Beddard, 1900), lectotype (NHMUK 1924.3.1.214). A. External ventral view. B. Internal dorsal view. C. Spermatheca; arrowhead: location of spermathecal pore.

FIGURE 4. External and internal morphology of Metaphire baruana (Stephenson, 1932), lectotype (NHMUK 1924.10.5.14.1). A. External ventral view. B. Internal dorsal view. C. Spermatheca; arrowhead: location of spermathecal pore.