Scherotheca corsicana (Pop, 1947)

Marchán, Daniel Fernández, Gérard, Sylvain, Hedde, Mickaël, Rougerie, Rodolphe & Decaëns, Thibaud, 2022, An updated checklist and a DNA barcode library for the earthworms (Crassiclitellata, Oligochaeta) of Corsica, France, Zoosystema 44 (17), pp. 439-461 : 455-456

Scherotheca corsicana L6

MATERIAL COLLECTED. — France • 18 adult specimens, 12 juvenile specimens; Corse du Sud, Olivese (D26 road); 41°50’45”N, 9°4’55”E; 1051 m a.s.l.; 6.IV.2021; T. Decaëns, D. Fernández Marchán leg.; MNHN ( BOLD Sample ID: DFM-0512, DFM- 0513, DFM-0514) • Corse du Sud, Olivese (D69 road); 41°50’13”N, 9°5’45”E; 1178 m a.s.l.; 6.IV.2021; T. Decaëns, D. Fernández Marchán leg.; Eco & Sols ( BOLD Sample ID: DFM-0266, DFM- 0267, DFM-0268) and MNHN ( BOLD Sample ID: DFM-0269, DFM-0270, DFM-0271, DFM-0272, DFM-0274, DFM-0275, DFM-0276, DFM-0277, DFM-0278, DFM-0279, DFM-0280, DFM-0281, DFM-0282, DFM-0283) • Corse du Sud, Zicavo, Castellu d’Ornucciu ; 41°52’22”N, 9°9’17”E; 1422 m a.s.l.; 3.IV.2021; T. Decaëns, D. Fernández Marchán leg.; MNHN ( BOLD Sample ID: DFM-0446, DFM-0447, DFM-0448, DFM-0449, DFM- 0450, DFM-0451, DFM-0452) • Corse du Sud, Zicavo, Ponte di Valpine ; 41°52’33”N, 9°7’58”E; 1248 m a.s.l.; 3.IV.2021; T. Decaëns, D. Fernández Marchán leg.; MNHN ( BOLD Sample ID: DFM-0443, DFM-0444, DFM-0445) .

REMARKS

These six lineages are supported by morphological differences in average body size and pigmentation, position of the clitellum and tubercula pubertatis, position of genital papillae and number and position of spermathecae and seminal vesicles. They have been provisionnaly assigned to Sc. corsicana , based on a relative similarity to the characters described in Pop (1947). However, it should be noted that Pop’s description is approximate, with four different localities designated as type localities, a single complete adult, and a wide morphological variability. It should also be noted that, although showing an undeniable degree of similarity to Sc. corsicana , none of the lineages found in our study matched all the characters highlighted by Pop. Hence, all six of those species-level lineages are susceptible of being described as new species.