Metaphire perichaeta ( Beddard, 1900 )

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 : 75-76

Metaphire perichaeta ( Beddard, 1900)

( Figure 8 , Table 2 )

Amyntas perichaeta Beddard, 1900: 896 –897.

Pheretima perichaeta (Beddard) . Stephenson 1932: 227 –229, Fig. 8 ; Gates 1939: 103. Metaphire perichaeta (Beddard) . Sims & Easton 1972: 238.

Material examined. Holotype: ( NHMUK 1924.3.1.231) by monotypy. The type locality is State of Phatthalung, Malay Peninsula, without any further specification.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized, length 160 mm with 118 segments. Male pores in copulatory pouches, these with transversely slit-like, conspicuous openings, in XVIII. No genital markings. Spermathecal pores paired at 6/7–8/9, spermathecal ampullae inverted pear-shaped, diverticulum slender and greatly coiled towards distal end. No nephridia on the spermathecal ducts. Holandric, intestinal caeca simple, first dorsal pore in 12/13. Prostate glands large.

M. khaochamao M. khaoluangensis M. perichaeta M. houlleti M. virgo

sp. n. sp. n. (Beddard, ( Perrier, 1872) ( Beddard, 1900)

1900)

Remarks. This species is known only from one specimen. The detailed descriptions of Beddard (1900) and Stephenson (1932) were without illustrations, a line drawing of the spermatheca excepted ( Stephenson 1932: 229, Fig. 8 ). In this study, we present illustrations of both the external ventral and internal dorsal view, including important features like the male genital characters and the prostate glands.

Metaphire perichaeta was first recorded from the State of Phatthalung (previously spelled Patalung), Malay Peninsula, but the locality is actually in Thailand, and M. khaoluangensis sp. n. is also found in Phatthalung. Differences of M. perichaeta are as follows: last oesophageal hearts in XII; spermathecae inverted pear-shaped; prostate glands and intestinal caeca smaller than those of the two new species with prostate glands situated on three segments in XVII–XIX (more than three segments in the new species) and intestinal caeca in XXVII– XXIV(XXVII–XXII in the new species). Moreover, M. perichaeta has a narrow mid-dorsal interruption in the ring of setae, while M. khaochamao has a mid-ventral interruption, and in M. khaoluangensis the ring of setae is continuous.

Figures

FIGURE 8. External and internal morphology of Metaphire perichaeta (Beddard, 1900), holotype (NHMUK 1924.3.1.231). A. External ventral view. B. Internal dorsal view. C. Spermatheca; arrowhead: location of spermathecal pore.

Tables

TABLE 2. Comparison of morphological characters in the Metaphire houlleti species group in Thailand. The comma is used to separate body length and width, and setal counts. Presence and absence of an organ is indicated by + or –. Data for M. houlleti are from Gates (1972), and data for M. virgo are from Stephenson (1932). Missing data are shown by a question mark (?).

Body length, width (mm) 166, 6	220, 10	160, 5	92–200, 4–7	152–157, 5
Segment number 118	119	118	92–140	129
First dorsal pore 12/13 Setae VII, XX 34, 60	12/13 36, 51	12/13 36, 46	11/12?, 48–62	11/12 38–51(VIII), 47–56
Male pore setae –	14	12	11–12	12
Male pore spacing 0.30	0.28	0.28	0.30	0.33
Spermathecal pore spacing 0.30	0.44	0.30	0.33	?
Genital marking –	–	–	–	–