Polypheretima fleischmani, 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 : 770-772

Polypheretima fleischmani sp. nov.

( Figure 14 )

Material examined

Holotype: adult ( MSUN-A009 ), in the vicinity of the National Museum in the municipality of Quezon, (9.216°N, 117.983°E), 20 m asl, Palawan Province, Philippines, coll. S. James, D. Flores, 28 October 2003 . Paratype: one adult ( MSUN-A 010), same collection data as for holotype.

Etymology

The species is named in recognition of Jared Fleischman, for his and his family’s support of biodiversity research among other charitable causes.

Diagnosis

Brown worm with adult length 99–149 mm, diameter 4–5.2 mm; 157–168 segments; two pairs of spermathecal battery pores at 5/6/7; 50–53 setae on vii, 59–65 setae on xx; 14–16 setae between male pores; male openings 0.25–0.27 circumference apart ventrally; paired genital markings widely spaced on xix–xxii, in line with male pores; four spermathecae closely aligned on either side of vi; six spermathecae closely aligned on either side of vii; spermathecae small, ampulla pyriform, spermathecal duct long, slender; diverticulum short, attached ectally to duct, terminating in round receptacle; prostates in xvi–xix; genital marking paddings present from xviii to xxi.

Description

Light brown dorsum, pale ventrum, equators unpigmented. Length 99–149 mm (n = 2 adults); diameter 4 mm at x, 5–5.2 mm at xx; body circular in cross section, tail blunt; 157–168 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 4–4.5 mm (0.25–0.27 circumference apart ventrally), 14–16 setae between pores. Clitellum annular, from xiv to xvi. Setae unevenly distributed around equators in some segments; 50–53 setae on vii, 59–65 setae on xx, dorsal setal gaps present, ventral setal gaps present. Paired genital markings widely spaced on xix–xxii, in line with male pores.

Septa 5/6–7/8 membranous, 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 in 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 8 spermathecae on vi, with 4 spermathecae closely aligned in each battery; a total of 12 spermathecae on vii, with 6 spermathecae closely aligned in each battery. Spermathecae small, ampulla pyriform, spermathecal duct long, slender; diverticulum stalk short and slender, attached ectally to duct, terminating in round receptacle; no nephridia on spermathecal ducts. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels enclosed in paired ventral sacs in x and xi; seminal vesicles in xi and xii; 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; muscular duct from lateral margin of prostate widens towards body wall, then narrows slightly just before body wall; copulatory bursae shallow. Genital marking paddings present from xviii to xxi.

Remarks

Polypheretima fleischmani sp. nov. belongs to the Po. elongata species group of Easton (1979). The new species is relatively similar to Po. kinabaluensis , Po. bukidnonensis and Po. mindanaoensis in length but it has more segments (157–168), has more space between male pores (0.25–0.29) and has more setae between male pores (14–16) than in Po. bukidnonensis and Po. mindanaoensis (which have 140–147 segments, 0.22–0.23 circumference apart ventrally, and 6–10 setae between male pores, respectively), and has fewer segments and more setae on vii (50–53) than in Po. kinabaluensis (~200 segments and <40 setae on vii, respectively) ( Table 2). The new species is similar to Po. elongata , Po. everetti , Po. victoriaensis sp. nov. and Po. jenniferae sp. nov. in the distance between male pores. However, the new species is smaller (99–149 mm) than these species (355 mm in Po. elongata , 300 mm in Po. everetti , 159–206 mm in Po. victoriaensis sp. nov. and 161–198 mm in Po. jenniferae sp. nov.). Also, Po. elongata , Po. everetti and Po. victoriaensis sp. nov. have significantly more setae (>77) and Po. jenniferae sp. nov. has no spermathecae, in contrast to the new species. Also unique to Po. fleischmani sp. nov. are its genital marking paddings, present from xviii to xxi.

Figures

Figure 14. Polypheretima fleischmani sp. nov. (a) External ventral view. (b) Internal dorsal view. (c) Spermathecae. Abbreviations: fp, female pores; gm, genital markings; gmp, genital marking paddings; mp, male pores; p, prostate gland; s, spermathecae; sp, spermathecal pores; sv, seminal vesicles.