Microchaetus natalensis ( Kinberg, 1867 )

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 : 289

Microchaetus natalensis ( Kinberg, 1867)

Geogenia natalensis Kinberg, 1867: 100 ; Perrier 1886: 876; Beddard 1895: 636; Michaelsen 1899 b: 428; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 143.

Geogenia ( Microchaeta ?) natalensis ; Michaelsen 1899 b: 428 [redescription].

Geogenia ( Microchaetus ?) natalensis ; Michaelsen 1900: 462.

Microchaetus natalensis ; Michaelsen 1913 c: 422, 1918: 324; Brinkhurst & Jamieson 1971: 739; Pickford 1975: 23; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 143; Plisko 1991: 287, 1992: 345, 1993 b: 235, 1995 a: 281, 1998: 273; Reynolds 1993: 6.

Material examined: KwaZulu­Natal: Hlatikulu Forest Reserve : NMSA /Olig.03636 (27º19'23"S: 31º59'32"E) forest floor, rocky area, at surface of dry soil, between Oplismenus grass, 1 cl + 1 juv; NMSA /Olig.03637 (27º19'23"S: 31º59'32"E) forest floor, under rock 10 cm under surface soil, 1 juv in quiescent state, regenerating posterior segments; all collected 21 August 2002 by AJA, D. Swanepoel, C. Hanekom, R. Scott­Shaw. NMSA /Olig.00626 Umfolozi Game Reserve (28º22'S: 31º52'E) on high bank of White Umfolozi River, grassland sandy soil, 24 February 1990, 1 with tubercula pubertatis, JDP [associated with distasmosus ]. NMSA /Olig.03377 Otto’s Bluff, Martin’s Farm (29º28'56"S: 30º22'11"E) from wet soil under wattle bush and indigenous grassland, 12 January 2001, 5 cl + 6 juv, JDP, AJA, TN [associated with Microchaetus parvus and Michalakus initus ].

Remarks: Of all known microchaetids, this species is the most widely distributed. It is known from numerous sites in KZN ( Fig.1 ), Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces ( Kinberg 1867; Michaelsen 1899 b 1913 c; Plisko 1991 1992 1995 a 1998), and Swaziland ( Reynolds 1993).Its occurrence is predicted in Mozambique,and possibly in south­eastern Zimbabwe. Collected from grasslands, forested habitats, under bushes, and in river banks.Sporadically found in decaying organic matter and in newly transformed natural biotopes such as gardens or agricultural fields. Often associated with other microchaetids, indigenous acanthodrilids, and introduced species of Megascolecidae , Glossoscolecidae and Lumbricidae .

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.