Microchaetus caementerii Michaelsen, 1913

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2003, Eleven new South African earthworms (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) with new information on some known species, and an inventory of the microchaetids of KwaZulu-Natal, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 279-325 : 288

Microchaetus caementerii Michaelsen, 1913

Microchaetus papillatus Benham, 1892 var. caementerii Michaelsen, 1913 c: 429 ; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 83. Microchaetus caementerii ; Michaelsen, 1918: 321; Pickford 1975: 23; Plisko 1991: 282 [redescription of paratype], 1992: 340; 1995 b: 49 [designation of lectotype], 1998: 260; Reynolds & Cook 1993: 23. Microchaetus caementerii cf. M. papillatus var. caementerii ; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 83.

Remarks: Michaelsen (1913 c) described this species on material collected from a graveyard in Pietermaritzburg, and from neighbouring Howick, with no designation of holotype. Plisko (1995 b) designated a lectotype from material deposited in the Natal Museum. A specimen housed in ZMH is a paralectotype. The type locality in Pietermaritzburg is presently built over. A few specimens have been collected in isolated patches of undisturbed grass in the Pietermaritzburg area, and in indigenous grassland near the city. The species has only been observed in confined areas and in small populations, and may be under threat of extinction. No new material has been obtained since 1991 (Plisko 1992). Collection sites are shown in Fig. 1 .

Figures

Fig. 1. The distribution of species of Microchaetus and Michalakus in KZN. Microchaetus: 1 = ambitus; 2 = caementerii; 3 = distasmosus; 4 = griphus; 5 = herberti; 6 = idechoritus; 7 = mkuzi; 8 = natalensis; 9 = papillatus; 10 = parvus; 11 = pondoanus; 12 = quaerus; 13 = tuberosus; 14 = vernoni; 15 = zaloumisi; 16 = Michalakus initus.