Pheretima virgata (James, 2004)

Aspe, Nonillon M. & James, Samuel W., 2017, Pheretimoid earthworms (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Mt. Apo, Mindanao Island, Philippines with description of eight new species, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 65, pp. 357-372 : 360

Pheretima virgata (James, 2004)

Material examined. One adult ( NMP 4626 ), Brgy Baracatan , Davao City , Mt. Apo National Park (7°00′04″N, 125°21′55″E), 1,524 m asl, Mindanao Island, Philippines, coll. N. Aspe, A. Solis, D. Flores, R. Librado, 11–14 December 2003 .

Diagnosis. Large worm with length 290–360 mm; with dark purplish brown stripes on dorsum, segmental equator nonpigmented; one pair of spermathecal pores at 7/8; distance between spermathecal pores and male pores 0.08–0.10 and 0.10–0.12 circumference apart ventrally, respectively; spermathecae with round to ovate ampulla, short stout duct expanding ectally; racemose prostates extending from xvii to xviii; penis lacking.

Description. Dark purplish brown dorsal pigment in stripes encircling dorsal 2/3 of circumference, ventral ends of stripes tapering, segmental equators non-pigmented. Length 290–360; diameter 13–17 mm (vii), 11–17 mm (xx); body cylindrical in cross section, tail tapering; 125–128 segments. First dorsal pore 12/13, spermathecal pores at 7/8, distance between spermathecal pores 0.08–0.10 circumference ventrally apart. Female pore single in xiv, openings of copulatory bursae paired in xviii, distance between openings 0.10–0.12 circumference apart ventrally, 4–5 setae between openings. Clitellum annular, from xiv to xvi. Setae on vii 74–76, on xx 80–86, dorsal setal gaps may or may not be present, no ventral gaps. Genital markings lacking.

Septa 4/5–7/8 tough but not thick, 8/9 membranous to posterior of gizzard, 9/10 absent, 10/11–13/14 very muscular. Dense tufts of nephridia on anterior faces of 5/6 and 6/7; nephridia of intestinal segments located mainly on body near septum/body wall junction. Large gizzard in viii–x, esophagus with densely crowded deep vertical lamellae xi–xiii, intestinal origin in xv or xvi, caeca simple originating in xxvii, extending forward to xxiii or xxi. Typhlosole originating in xxvii, simple fold one-fifth lumen diameter. Intestinal wall with 32–42 longitudinal vessels. Hearts in x–xiii esophageal, hearts of x lacking connection to dorsal vessel but no supraesophageal vessel visible in x; commissural vessels in vi, vii, ix lateral; those in viii extending to gizzard.

Ovaries and funnels free in xiii, paired spermathecae in viii with nephridia only on posterior face of spermathecal ducts; spermathecae with round to ovate ampulla, short stout duct expanding ectally, diverticulum attached to the ental portion of the left face of the right spermathecal duct, and to the right face of the left spermathecal duct, stalks short, terminating in large round or with several chambered receptacles. Spermatophores present in each ampulla. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels enclosed in paired sacs in x, xi; sacs not connected, sacs of xi enclose seminal vesicles; seminal vesicles in xi, xii, with dorsal lobe; vasa deferentia slightly muscular, free from body wall en route to ental end of prostatic ducts; prostates in xvii to xviii; each prostate racemose with 2–3 major lobes, stout muscular duct entering posterior face of copulatory bursa. Copulatory bursae ovate in xvii–xviii; coelomic surfaces muscular, secretory diverticula lacking in xviii; roofs lined with several blocky pads, floors composed of four or five triangular pads with apices towards bursal openings; penis lacking.

Remarks. Pheretima virgata , which belongs to the P. sangirensis group of Sims & Easton (1972), is most similar to P. tigris ( Aspe & James, 2014) of Mt. Malindang in having large size and in pigmentation pattern. However, P. tigris is relatively smaller (230–283 mm × 8–14 mm), the distance between spermathecal pores and male pores are wider (0.13 and 0.14 circumference apart, respectively). Also, there are fewer setae on xx (48–61), more longitudinal vessels (56–58) on the intestinal wall, and the spermathecae have large ovate to pyriform ampulla, with diverticulum terminating in oblong receptacle wider at distal end. Pheretima virgata was first recorded in Mt. Kitanglad, about 160 km away from Mt. Apo.