Amynthas carnosus ( Goto & Hatai, 1899 )

Blakemore, R. J., 2012, Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) redescribed on its neotype (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Megascolecidae), Journal of Species Research 1 (1), pp. 35-43 : 36-38

Amynthas carnosus ( Goto & Hatai, 1899)

Perichaeta carnosa Goto & Hatai, 1899: 15 , 24, figs. 4, 5. [From Tokyo. Described on two specimens - see Note below. Types not known despite extensive searches by current author for 10 yrs in Japan (cf. Blakemore & Ueshima, 2011)].

Amyntas hawayanus (part.): Beddard, 1900: 645; Gates, 1932: 433.

Pheretima carnosa : Michaelsen, 1900: 260; Chen, 1936: 274 (when describing P. pingi chungkingensis , that possibly merits elevation to species level, remarked that P. pingi Stephenson, 1925 was probably a synonym of carnosa ); Kobayashi, 1936a: 115, tab. 1, text figs. 1-3 (syns. pingi , kyamikia ), 1938: 161; Ohfuchi, 1937 b: 56, fig. 9, Pl. 1, 4; Kobayashi, 1938: 161;? Chen, 1959: 9, fig. 9 (part. syn. pingi ); Gates, 1972: 149; Ishizuka, 2001: 75, fig. 32; Nakamura, 1999: 27 (name misspelt “canosa”).

Pheretima kyamikia Kobayashi, 1934: 1 , figs. 1-3. [From North Korea. Types unknown, but a non-type specimen from “(Tetsugen) Kogen-do” sent by S. Kobayashi was added in synonymy of P. pingi by Gates (1939: 465). Kobayashi’s (1934: fig. 1) is the same as Chen’s (1959: fig. 9i variation) for carnosa (syn. pingi ). Named for Korean vernacular “kyamiki” meaning “ dog bait ” or “ useless as fishbait ”].

Pheretima monstrifera Kobayashi, 1936b: 168 , fig. 11. [From Seoul and other localities. Agreeing with Kobayashi (1936a: tab. 1, and text-figs. 1 XII & 2I)]. Syn. nov.

Amynthas carnosus : Sims & Easton, 1972: 235 [lapsus in A. hawayanus ( = gracilis ) group]; Blakemore, 2003: 13 +43 addendum (syns.? distichus, kyamikia , ? youngtai , sangyeoli ); 2004; 2007; 2008 (syns. ? pingi , kyamikia , ? youngtai , sanyeoli); Shen et al., 2003: 484 (syn. sangyeoli ); [?non Shen et al., 2005: 95; nec. Tsai et al., 2009: 38; nec. Chang et al., 2009: 32, fig. 12].

Pheretima diffringens (part.): Gates, 1972: 149.

Amynthas gracilis (part.): Easton, 1981: 50.

Amynthas youngtai Hong & James, 2001 b: 269, fig. 1A-C. [From Jeju (=Quelpart), Korea - the same place whence Kobayashi (1938: 161) had already recorded A. carnosus - apparently from some other locations too. Types put in Korean Institute of Biodiversity Research ( KIBIO), Jeonbuk National University, but details are unclear. Uncertainty due to segmental miscounts between authors’ fig. 1 and somewhat confused description but, nevertheless, it mostly agrees, at least with Kobayashi (1936a: tab. 1 and text-figs. 1 VII & 2X)].

Amynthas kimhaeiensis Hong & James, 2001 b: 270, fig. 2A-C. [From Korea. Type in Korea. Description of spermathecal pores and figures do not quite correspond, yet apparently agreeing at least with Kobayashi (1936a: text-figs. 1XI or XII & 2II)]. Syn. nov.

Amynthas sangyeoli Hong & James, 2001 b: 271, fig. 3A-C. [Korean types, materials and type-material locations seem rather confused. Markings near male and spermathecal pores, and the spermatheca exactly the same as Goto & Hatai’s corrected figures from 102 years earlier, as well as those of Kobayashi (1934; 1936a), Ohfuchi (1937), Chen (1936; 1959), etc. dating from ~69 years ago].

Amynthas sinsiensis Hong & James, 2001 b: 272, fig. 4A-C. [From Korea. Types? Agreeing both with A. monstriferus and Kobayashi (1936a: text-figs. 1I or II or IV & 2I)]. Syn. nov.

Amynthas baemsagolensis Hong & James, 2001 b: 274, fig. 5A-C. [From Korea. Types? Agreeing both with A. sinsiensis and Kobayashi (1936a: text-figs. 1I & 2I)]. Syn. nov.

? Amynthas monsoonus James et al. 2005: 1012 . [From Taiwan. Cf. regarded as a junior synonym of A. tungpuensis Tsai et al., 1999 by Tsai et al. (2009). Probable instant synonymy of all nine “new” species was already suggested to the authors in manuscript review, prior to publication in a referee’s report sent to journal editor 8.I.2004 (as online in Blakemore, 2010b and as attached in Appendix), but this advice was manifestly ignored. Their named specimen agrees somewhat with Kobayashi’s (1936a: text-figs. 1 XVII & 2I) and Chen’s (1959: fig. 9 variations)].

Note. Goto & Hatai (1899: 15) said: “ Two specimens presenting a difference of some importance in the genital papillae around the male pores. We shall base our description on the larger specimen, which is also provided with more genital papillae.” They then proceeded to poorly describe both specimens that they said were otherwise identical and thereby commenced introduction of 100+ years of confusion and uncertainty. These two original syntypes are not traceable in any known Japanese collection (as already noted).

Material inspected. Tokyo, NMST An435, formol preserved Neotype ( Fig. 1 ) labeled “ Ph carnosa (Goto and Hatai) [Kanji for Sendai-city] 1923-1925” part of Saito Ho-on Kai Museum Collection, possibly inspected and labeled by Dr Hatai who was original author, or one of his students e.g. Shinryo Ohfuchi. The date precludes it being a syntype. One mature specimen with tip of tail missing, previously undissected and here figured and dissected with small tissue samples taken to attempt DNA 1 mm barcoding.

Diagnosis. Size 110-247 mm. Spermathecal pores in 5/6/ 7/8/9 or rarely in 6/7/8/9 (Goto & Hatai confused them in 5/6/7/8). Dorsal pores typically from 12/13. Genital markings typically closely paired mid-ventral and presetal in 8-9 and often also in 18-19 with other pairs just posterior (and sometimes anteriorly) median to the male pores; some variation apparently acceptable, including complete absence of markings. Intestinal caeca simple.

Distribution. Japan ( Goto & Hatai, 1899; Kobayashi, 1936a; Ohfuchi, 1937; Easton, 1981 - from Kyushu to Tohoku and Hokkaido from reports he quotes by Kobayashi, 1936, 1941 and Yamaguchi, 1962); Korea and Jeju-do (=Quelpart) Island ( Kobayashi, 1936a; 1936b; 1937; 1938); China ( Chen, 1959); claimed from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Hong Kong, Sichuan, and Beijing [from Chinese Agricultural Academy of Science website: www.agrionline.net.cn/zhuanti/index.htm (2005), whence Pheretima carnosa (sic) is dubiously described with either three or four pairs of spermathecae in 5/6/7/8, 8/9, possibly including P. pingi subspecies]; Vietnam (unconfirmed as P. pingi ). Relatively recently A. carnosus was (?mis-)described from Taiwan by Shen et al. (2005); this requires confirmation as noted by Blakemore et al. (2006: 228).

Description (Neotype compared to the original descriptions and synonymy above, excluding typical A. pingi characteristics). Body length 180+ mm (cf. 143-153 by Goto & Hatai or 110-247 by Kobayashi, 1936a), segments 111+ (cf. 106-126 by Goto & Hatai or 110-179 by Kobayashi). Dark brown dorsum with darker clitellum. First dorsal pore 12/13 (cf. 13/14 Goto & Hatai lapsus, or 11/ 12/ 13 in some other accounts). Setae 24-69. Spermathecal pores wide in 5/6/7/8/9 (initially confused by Goto & Hatai as 5/6/7/8). Genital markings closely paired presetally in 8 and 9 (7 and 8 according to Goto & Hatai, lapsus - Fig. 2 ), in 18 and often in 19; other markings just anterioventral to superficial male pores in 18 postsetally (neotype in agreement except that 19rhs presetal is unilateral - Fig. 1 ); in Goto & Hatai’s second specimen and 50% of Kobayashi’s material both these mid-ventral pairs in 18 and 19 were absent and sometimes no markings were near male pores either, while a few other specimens lacked markings entirely or had extra markings in 18. Considerable variation was permitted in both preclitellar and postclitellar marking locations by Kobayashi (1936a) - Fig. 3 . Sessile glands correspond to the markings internally. No accessory pore glands noted, neither near to spermathecal nor to male pores (cf. Shen et al., 2005). Internally the pharyngeal mass extends to 4 and tufted meroic nephridia are in 5 and 6. Septa 8/9/10 are aborted or 8/9 sometimes retained and displaced by gizzard ( Kobayashi, 1936a: 116); 10/11/12 and sometimes 12/13 are strong; thereafter membranous. Spermathecae in 6-9, the first pair often smaller (and sometimes absent) the last two pairs after septum 7/8; with diverticula about half the length of duct plus ampulla. Last hearts in 13. From ca. 15/16 distinct paired septal glands on dorsal blood vessel occur ( Fig. 1 ). Seminal vesicles with dorsal appendages in 11 and 12. Ovaries in 13 with vestigial ovisacs on posterior of 13/14. Intestine origin in 15 with simple caeca from 27 extnding forward to 24 or 23. Gut contains yellow soil in Neotype, i.e., low organic content suggesting a geophageous diet.

Figures

Fig. 1. Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) NSMT An435 Neotype showing prostomium, ventral view of body with spermathecae and prostates in situ (GM=Genital Marking with internal glands); also septal glands on dorsal blood vessel and intestinal caecum (Ihs=left side).

Fig. 2. Amynthas carnosus: upper Goto & Hatai’s original fig. 4; lower Ph. kyamikia Kobayashi, 1934, figs. 1-3 (as exactly similar in syns. youngtai and sangyeoli).

Fig. 3. Variation in genital markings and spermathecal pores from Kobayashi (1936: text-figs. 1-2) showing permissible variations as determined by his detailed study.