Microchaetus pondoanus 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 : 291

Microchaetus pondoanus Michaelsen, 1913

Microchaetus pondoanus var. typica Michaelsen, 1913 a: 542 .

Microchaetus pondoanus Michaelsen, 1913 a var. minor Michaelsen, 1913 a: 547 .

Microchaetus pondoanus var. typica ; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 137.

Microchaetus pondoanus Michaelsen, 1913 a var. minor ; Reynolds & Cook 1976: 157.

Microchaetus pondoanus ; Pickford 1975: 23; Reynolds & Cook 1976:157, 1993: 27; Plisko 1998: 288, 2002 b: 210.

Material examined: KwaZulu­Natal: NMSA / Olig. 02719 Ngele Forest, Weza (30º32'30"S: 29º45'30"E) central area, 21 February 1999, 1 juv, C . T. Symes. NMSA / Olig. 03700 Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Yengele Trial (30º58'S: 30º17'E) dune forest, in leaf litter, 28 December 2002, 1 cl, D. G. Herbert. Eastern Cape: Mbotyi, at foot of forest scarp : NMSA / Olig. 03771 coastal forest (31º27'S: 29º44'E) in leaf litter, 1 March 2003, 4 cl ; NMSA / Olig. 03772 inland of lagoon at Mkozi stream mouth (31º27'S: 29º45'E) in leaf litter, 2 March 2003, 5 cl ; NMSA / Olig. 03773 Mbotyi , coastal forest, various sites besides the road through upper section of forested scarp (31º26'S: 29º44'E) in leaf litter, 3 March 2003, 7 cl [together with Parachilota sp. ] ; NMSA / Olig. 03775 Port St. Johns, Isinuka sulphur springs and travertine deposit, woodland/forest (31º37'S: 29º29'E) 6 cl; all material from Eastern Cape collected by D. G. Herbert.

Remarks:A species described and known from Pondoland (Michaelsen, 1913 a). Recently collected material and that reported by Plisko (1998 2002 b) show species occurrence in patches of indigenous forest situated at higher altitude areas of the Umtamvuna River catchment, and in coastal forest in the area bordering the two provinces KZN and Eastern Cape. Collection sites in KZN 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.