Pheretima lagunaensis, Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2008

Hong, Yong & James, Samuel W., 2008, Three new earthworms of the genus Pheretima (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Mt. Makiling, Luzon Island, Philippines, Zootaxa 1695, pp. 45-52 : 49-51

Pheretima lagunaensis sp. nov.

( Fig. 3 A–B)

Material. Holotype: One clitellate (NMA 004198): Philippines, Laguna Province, Mt. Makiling trail, (14° 08.25’N, 121° 11.65’E), 1031 m, soil, 22 February 2001, S. W. James coll.

Etymology. The species is named for its type locality in Laguna Province.

Description. Solid brown dorsal pigment. Dimensions 40 mm by 2.0 mm at segment X, 2.0 mm at XXX, 2.0 mm at clitellum, segments 85; body circular in cross-section. Setae numbering 45 at VII, 52 at XX; 0 between male pores, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ= 2:1:1:1 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI; setae invisible externally.

First dorsal pore 12/13. One pair of spermathecal pores in 7/8 at 2nd setal lines near mid ventral within a sunken area, 0.03 circumference ventrally apart. Female pore in XIV, openings of copulatory bursae paired in XVIII at 3rd setal line, 0.10 circumference ventrally apart. No genital markings.

* Setal gaps present: D (dorsal), V (ventral) ** Septal presence: + Septal absence: - *** Missing data:?

Septa 5/6–7/8 muscular, 8/9 and 9/10 absent, 10/11–12/13 thin. Gizzard in VIII–X, intestine begins in XVI, medium paired lymph glands from XXVIII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple, originating in XXVII and extending anteriorly about to XXIV, small finger-shaped sac; typhlosole simple fold <1/6 lumen diameter from XXVII; 28–30 intestinal blood vessels. Hearts X–XIII esophageal.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII. Spermathecae in VII with few small nephridia on ducts; spermathecae small, egg-shaped ampulla flattened by gizzard, duct short, stout, muscular, shorter than ampulla, diverticulum chamber egg-shaped, iridescent, stalk short and slender. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X–XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI–XII, with small ovate apical dorsal lobes.

Prostates in XVII–XX, bilobate, wrapped around copulatory bursae, duct slender proximally, extending posteriorly to hairpin bend, then becoming thickly muscular and entering posterior edge of copulatory bursae without stalked glands; copulatory bursae lacking pads; penis large irregular shape from roof.

Remarks. This species also keys to the sangirensis group in Sims & Easton (1972), but differs from the previously known species in having no septa 8/9 and 9/10, no bursal pads and no male pore setae. It is similar to Pheretima mariae sp. nov. and P. alba , from which it differs by having a non-digitate penis and by having more setae per segment. Pheretima lagunaensis sp. nov. is pigmented but P. alba is not.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Pheretima lagunaensis sp. nov. A: ventral view; B: spermathecae. Scale bars = 3 mm (A), 2 mm (B).