Pheretima baletei, James, 2004

James, Samuel W., 2004, New Species Of Amynthas, Pheretima And Pleionogaster (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) Of The Mt. Kitanglad Range, Mindanao Island, Philippines, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (2), pp. 289-313 : 292-293

Pheretima baletei , new species

( Figs. 1C, D )

Material examined. – Holotype - One preclitellate ( NMA 003974 ) Philippines, Mindanao Island, Bukidnon Province, Mt. Kitanglad Range , 18.5 km S, 4 km. E of Camp Philips, 2250 m. elevation, coll. L. Heaney, 4 Apr.1993.

Etymology. – Danilo Balete, a Philippine conservation biologist, was instrumental in obtaining many of the earthworms collected at Mt. Kitanglad, and in assisting the author in further research in the Philippines. This species is named in his honor.

Description. – Faint pink dorso-anterior pigment, body> 78 mm x 4.3 mm (vii, x), 4.5 mm (xxv), incomplete posterior

amputee; body cylindrical in cross-section. First dorsal pore 11/12, spermathecal pores on posterior face of small protuberances paired in 5/6, 0.25 circumference apart, female pore single in xiv, openings of copulatory bursae paired in xviii, 0.24 circumference apart in 7 th setal line, 6 setae between openings. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators, 24 setae on vii, 40 setae on xx; no dorsal or ventral gaps in setal spacing. Clitellum not developed; no genital markings ( Fig. 1C ).

Septa 4/5-6/7 thin, 7/8 muscular, 8/9 lacking, 9/10 very thin, 10/11very thick, 11/12-13/14 less so but still muscular. Nephridia in dense tufts on anterior faces of 5/6, 6/7; nephridia of post-clitellar segments in pre-, post-septal rows near septum-body wall junction.

Large gizzard in viii, esophagus pebbly x-xi, lamellar xiixiii, intestinal origin xvii, simple caeca originating in xxvii, extending forward to xxi, ventral margins incised; typhlosole rudimentary, no more than blood vessel on dorsal intestinal wall, xxvii-lix.

Hearts x-xiii esophageal, commissural vessels vi, vii, ix lateral; viii to gizzard; ventral vessel with branches to body wall in viii, ix. Supra-esophageal vessel xi-xiv, extra esophageal vessel to esophageal wall in x, efferent parietoesophageal vessel not seen.

Ovaries and funnels free in xiii, spermathecae paired in vi with nephridia on lateral faces of spermathecal ducts; each spermatheca with large rounded ampulla, single stalked diverticulum terminating in club-shaped receptacle, stalk tightly looped, first loop closely adherent to spermathecal duct ( Fig. 1D ). Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels enclosed in paired sacs in x, xi; seminal vesicles xi, xii with dorsal lobes; vasa deferentia free from body wall en route to ental end of prostatic ducts; each prostate racemose with two major lobes, stout muscular duct to copulatory bursa in xviii; coelomic surface of copulatory bursae lacking glandular or other projections; well-developed conical penis present, passing through sheath-like sleeve en route to opening.

Remarks. – Pheretima baletei also keys to the P. urceolata group (or species; see above). It is diagnosed by the following unique set of characteristics: 24 setae on vii (fewer than other members of the species group), very pale pigmentation, male pores about 0.25 circumference apart, septum 8/9 present, lacking 9/10; intestinal origin in xvii, no typhlosole, spermathecal diverticulum stalk looped, copulatory bursa circular, not ellipsoidal or with anterior/posterior bulges; has penes. For more comparisons, see Table 1.

Figures

Fig. 1. Spermathecae, and external views (ventral except as noted) showing spermathecal pores, female pores, male pores and if present, genital markings, of Pheretima kitangladensis (A, B), P. baletei (C, D), P. heaneyi (E, F), P. bukidnonensis (G. Lateral view of spermathecal pore, ventral view of female and male pores, H), and P. monotheca (I, J). Symbols: fp, female pore(s); mp, male pores; sp, spermathecal pores.