Pithemera Sims and Easton, 1972

Aspe, Nonillon M. & James, Samuel W., 2015, New Polypheretima and Pithemera (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) species from the Mt. Malindang Range, Mindanao Island, Philippines, Journal of Natural History 49 (37), pp. 2233-2255 : 2243

Genus Pithemera Sims and Easton, 1972

Type species. Perichaeta bicincta Perrier, 1875

Generic diagnosis

Body cylindrical; setae numerous, regularly arranged around each segment; clitellum annular, covering two or two and a half segments from xiv to xv, and/or half of xvi; spermathecal pores small, three to five pairs from 4/5 to 8/9; female pore single or paired in xiv; genital markings present or absent; oesophageal bursae absent; intestinal caeca originating in xxii (in Pheretima , caeca originating in xxvii); spermathecal ducts without nephridia (as in Polypheretima ); male system holandric or metandric; prostate glands racemose; copulatory bursae lacking ( Sims and Easton 1972). Hong and James (2008a) observed that Pithemera species are generally lighter in pigmentation and smaller in size than Pheretima species.