Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis, Aspe & Manasan & Manlavi & Patiluna & Sebido & Obusan & Simbahan & James, 2021

Aspe, Nonillon M., Manasan, Rafael Ethan, Manlavi, Albert B., Patiluna, Ma. Lotus E., Sebido, Maria Asela B., Obusan, Marie Christine M., Simbahan, Jessica F. & James, Samuel W., 2021, The earthworm fauna of Palawan, Philippines with description of nineteen new pheretimoid species (Clitellata: Megascolecidae), Journal of Natural History 55 (11 - 12), pp. 733-797 : 768-770

Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis sp. nov.

( Figure 13 )

Material examined

Holotype: adult ( WPU-A020 ), Brgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, (9.783°N, 118.650°E), 200 m asl, Palawan Province, Philippines, coll. E. Manasan, A. Manlavi, 5 October 2018 . Paratypes: one juvenile ( WPU-A 021), same collection data as for holotype.

Etymology

The species is named after Puerto Princesa City, the type locality . Puerto Princesa is the capital of the Province of Palawan.

Diagnosis

Small brown worm with adult length 57–65 mm, diameter 3.5–4 mm; 132–139 segments; two pairs of spermathecal battery pores at 5/6/7; 52–55 setae on vii, 51–63 setae on xx; 12 setae between male pores; male openings 0.23–0.24 circumference apart ventrally; paired genital markings widely spaced on xix–xxi, in line with male pores; three spermathecae closely aligned on either side of vi; five spermathecae closely aligned on either side of vii; spermathecae small, ampulla pyriform, spermathecal duct short, slender; spermathecal diverticulum lacking; prostates in xvi–xix.

Description

Light brown dorsum, pale ventrum, equators unpigmented. Length 57–65 mm (n = 3 adults); diameter 3.5–4 mm at x, 3.5–3.9 mm at xx; body circular in cross section, tail tapering; 132–139 segments. First dorsal pore at 12/13, two pairs of spermathecal battery pores at intersegments 5/6/7. Female pore single in xiv, openings of male pores paired in xviii, distance between pores 2.5–3 mm (0.23–0.24 circumference apart ventrally), 12 setae between pores. Clitellum annular, from xiv to xvi. Setae unevenly distributed around equators in some segments; 52–55 setae on vii, 51–63 setae on xx, dorsal setal gaps present, ventral setal gaps present. Paired genital markings widely spaced on xix–xxi, in line with male pores.

Septa 5/6–7/8 muscular, 10/11–13/14 thin, 8/9/10 lacking. Dense tufts of nephridia on anterior faces of 4/5, 5/6 and 6/7; nephridia of intestinal segments located mainly on body near septum/body wall junction. Large gizzard in viii–x, oesophagus with low vertical lamellae x–xiii, intestinal origin in xiv, caeca lacking. Hearts in x–xiii, oesophageal; commissural vessels in vi, vii and ix lateral.

Ovaries and funnels free in xiii. Spermathecal batteries paired, postseptal in vi and vii. A total of 6 batteries on vi, with 3 spermathecae closely aligned in each battery; a total of 10 spermathecae on vii, with 5 spermathecae closely aligned in each battery. Spermathecae small, ampulla pyriform, spermathecal duct slender; spermathecal diverticulum lacking; no nephridia on spermathecal ducts. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels enclosed in paired ventral sacs in x and xi; seminal vesicles in x and xiii; seminal vesicles in x extend to ix; pseudovesicles in xiii; vasa deferentia slender, free from body wall on way to ental end of prostatic ducts; prostates in xvi–xix, each prostate racemose, compact; short duct from lateral margin of prostate directed towards body wall; copulatory bursae shallow.

Remarks

Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis sp. nov. belongs to the Po. elongata species group of Easton (1979). The new species is the smallest among the members of the Po. elongata group, with adult size of 57–65 × 3.5–4 mm. Its feature of having no spermathecal diverticula makes it unique among the members of the Po. elongata group. Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis sp. nov. is similar to Po. bukidnonensis , Po. mindanaoensis and Po. irawanensis sp. nov. in the distance between male pores (0.22–0.24 circumference apart ventrally), but the former has more setae between male pores than in Po. bukidnonensis and Po. mindanaoensis (12 vs 6–10 in the latter two species), and fewer setae in vii and xx (52–55 and 51–63, respectively) than in Po. irawanensis sp. nov. (94 and 79, respectively) ( Table 2).

Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis sp. nov. is being tested, together with Po. jenniferae sp. nov., at the Western Philippines University for its potential as a vermicompost commodity, as it has been found to have relatively high survival rate compared with the other indigenous species of Palawan. The microbiota and the enzymatic activities in the new species’ gut are also currently being tested at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, for its potential to degrade the plastic in disposable diapers.

Figures

Figure 13. Polypheretima puertoprincesaensis sp. nov. (a) External ventral view. (b) Internal dorsal view. (c) Spermathecae. Abbreviations: fp, female pores; gm, genital markings; mp, male pores; p, prostate gland; s, spermathecae; sp, spermathecal pores; sv, seminal vesicles.