Pithemera glandis, Hong & James, 2011

Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2011, New Species Of Pheretima, Pithemera, And Polypheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) From Kalbaryo, Luzon Island, Philippines, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (1), pp. 19-28 : 24-25

Pithemera glandis , new species

( Figs. 5 A–B)

Septa 5/6–7/8 thick, 8/9 absent, 9/10–12/13 muscular. Gizzard in viii–ix, intestine enlarged from xv; intestinal caeca simple, originating in xxii, and extending anteriorly about to xx, each consisting of a small triangle-shaped sac; typhlosole medium depth simple fold from xxii. Hearts x–xii esophageal; ix lateral, viii absent.

Ovaries and funnels in xiii, spermathecae in v–ix; no nephridia on spermathecal ducts; spermatheca with an elongate acorn-shaped ampulla, ducts slender, as long as Material examined. – Holotype: One clitellate ( NMA 4389 ), Philippines, Ilocos Norte Province, Pagudpud , Kalbaryo (18°33.65'N 127°57.83'E), 239 m, litter layers in the forest, coll. Y. Hong, A. Castillo & M. Levi, 3 Jun.2001. Paratypes: 1 clitellate ( NMA 4395 ), 1 clitellate ( KUNHM), 1 clitellate ( NIBR), 1 clitellate ( ZRC): same data as for holotype .

Other material: 5 clitellates and 10 aclitellates, same data as for holotype ( NMA) .

Diagnosis. – Five pairs of very small spermathecal pores in 4/5–8/9; spermathecal pores and male pores 0.15 and 0.18 circumference ventrally apart, respectively. Genital markings absent.

Etymology. – The acorn shaped spermathecal ampulla is the source of the species name ( glandis is Latin for acorn).

Description. – Brown dorsal pigment. Dimensions 62–108 mm (aclitellate 72 mm) by 4.1–4.5 mm at segment x, 4.2–4.6 mm at xxx, 4.3–4.6 mm at clitellum, segments 129–136; body cylindrical in cross-section. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators, numbering 53 at vii, 61 at xx; 8–11 between male pores, size, distance regular; setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 3.5:2:2:3.5 at xiii. Clitellum annular in xiv–1/2xvi; ventral setae of xvi visible externally.

First dorsal pore in 12/13, five pairs of minute spermathecal pores in 4/5–8/9, ventral, 2.0 mm between spermathecal pores (0.15 circumference ventrally apart). Female pores paired in xiv within 0.5 mm oval, male pores paired in xviii, 2.5 mm apart (0.18 circumference ventrally apart), slightly protuberant white spot on 0.3 mm porophores within 1.0 mm outer rings. Genital markings absent.

ampulla, diverticulum shorter than ampulla with elongate oval chamber. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in inverted U-shaped sacs in x, xi, testes sacs enclosing hearts x, xi, seminal vesicles xi. Seminal vesicles two pairs in xi, xii with fine bushy dorsal lobes, prostates in xvii–xix, four small main lobes, ducts long slender, widening slightly towards body wall, vas deferens very thin.

Remarks. – Pithemera glandis , new species, keys to the bicincta group in Sims & Easton (1972), which is composed of two species, Pi. bicincta ( Perrier, 1875) and Pi. violacea ( Beddard, 1895) . The species shares some characteristics of the spermathecal pores in 4/5–8/9, and ampulla longer than diverticulum, with Pi. bicincta and Pi. violacea . Pithemera glandis , new species, has no genital papillae, but Pi. bicincta has paired genital papillae in segments xviii and xix, and one pair of genital papillae just behind the male pores at 18/19. Pithemera glandis , new species, differs from Pi. violacea in having 8 or more setae between the male pores, and lacking the genital papillae on 18/19 found in Pi. violacea .

Figures

Fig. 5. Pithemera glandis, new species: A, ventral view; B, spermathecae and diverticulum. Scale bars = 5 mm (A), 1 mm (B).