Polypheretima Michaelsen, 1934

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 : 2238

Genus Polypheretima Michaelsen, 1934

Type species. Perichaeta stelleri Michaelsen, 1892

Generic diagnosis

Body cylindrical; setal arrangement perichaetine; annular clitellum covering segments xiv–xvi; pair of male pores in xviii on circular porophores which may be within copulatory bursae; ventral genital markings present or absent; oesophageal gizzard in viii; intestine begins in xv or xvi; nephridia on spermathecal ducts lacking; caeca lacking; male sexual system usually holandric, with testes and funnels enclosed in paired sacs in x and xi; seminal vesicles in xi and xii; spermathecal pores small, spermathecal diverticula simple and usually ectal in origin; prostates racemose; copulatory bursae may or may not be present; ovaries free in xiii; oviducts lead to single or closely paired opening ( Easton 1979). Hong and James (2008a) observed that most Polypheretima species on Luzon have white pigmentation and are generally smaller than Pheretima species.