Pheretima julkai, Hong & James, 2011

Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2011, New earthworm species of the genus Pheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Mountain Province, Philippines, Journal of Natural History 45 (29 - 30), pp. 1769-1788 : 1780-1782

Pheretima julkai sp. nov.

( Figure 5 )

Type material

Holotype: Clitellate (NMA 04377): Philippines, Mountain province, Mt. Lamagan (17 ◦ 07.34 ′ N, 121 ◦ 10.20 ′ E), 1980 m a.s.l., lower montane forest, arboreal, 4 April 2001, S. W. James coll. Paratypes: 5 clitellates (NMA 04383): Same data as for holotype .

Other material

Same data as for holotype, 20 clitellates, 14 aclitellates; 13 clitellates, 4 semi-clitellates, Philippines, Mountain Province, Mt. Lamagan lower slopes near river, 1200 m a.s.l., arboreal, 4 April 2001, S.W. James, coll.

Etymology

Named after Dr J. M. Julka of the Zoological Survey of India, who made great contributions to systematics of earthworms.

Diagnosis

Three pairs small ventral spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9, 0.20–0.23 circumference apart; copulatory bursae openings 0.18–0.20 circumference apart flanked by internal anterior, posterior circular pads, penis a transversely placed wedge, spermathecae two pairs in VII and one pair in VIII, typhlosole lacking, intestinal origin XVI, septa 8/9–9/10 present.

Description

Light purple-brown dorsal pigment, faint or absent on narrow equatorial rings. Dimensions 49–69 mm by 3.5–4 at segment X, 3.5–4 mm at XXX, 3–3.2 mm at clitellum, segments 90–95; body circular in cross-section. Setae more closely spaced on ventral surface, numbering 29–31 at VII, 51–54 at XX, 6–10 between male pores, size regular from dorsal to ventral, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 2:2:3.5:5 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV-XVI, setae invisible externally.

First dorsal pore 10/11, three pairs ventral spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9 at 8th setal lines, 0.20–0.23 circumference apart; distance between spermathecal pores 2.4–2.5 mm. Female pore single in XIV; 0.2–0.3 mm openings of copulatory bursa paired in XVIII at 8th setal lines, 0.18–0.20 circumference apart ventrally; 2.2–2.4 mm between openings. Genital markings lacking.

Septa 5/6 thin, 6/7 thick, 7/8–13/14 membranous. Gizzard in VIII, intestine begins in XVI, small paired lymph glands from XXVIII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple originating in XXVII, and extending anteriorly about to XXV, finger-shaped sac; typhlosole vestigial from XXVI, 24–26 longitudinal blood vessels in intestinal wall. Hearts in X–XIII oesophageal; IX lateral, VIII to gizzard.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII, spermathecae two pairs in VII, one in VIII, ducts of anterior VII to 6/7, posterior VII to 7/8, VIII to 8/9; with nephridia on spermathecal ducts, spermathecal ampulla spherical; duct very short, mostly within body wall, diverticulum chamber egg-shaped, iridescent, stalk shorter than ampulla. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X, XI, vasa deferentia of a side remain separate to prostate duct. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI, XII well developed with small dorsal lobes set in deep clefts, prostates in XVII–XVIII, with muscular ducts, entering top centre face of copulatory bursae without coelomic glands; copulatory bursae openings flanked posterior, anterior by circular pads, penis a wedge placed transversely, male pore on median end of wedge apex.

Remarks

Pheretima julkai sp. nov. also belongs to the dubia group in Sims and Easton (1972). See remarks for Pheretima lamaganensis sp. nov. for differences between the new species and all others of the dubia group. It also has septa 8/9–9/10, which the other species in its group do not have.

Figures

Figure 5. Pheretima julkai sp. nov.: (A) ventral view; (B) spermathecae. Scale bars = 3 mm (A), 2 mm (B).