Tritogenia ngomensis Plisko, 1992

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2003, Eleven new South African earthworms (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) with new information on some known species, and an inventory of the microchaetids of KwaZulu-Natal, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 279-325 : 310-311

Tritogenia ngomensis Plisko, 1992

Tritogenia ngomensis Plisko, 1992: 370 ; Reynolds & Cook 1993: 18.

Material examined: KwaZulu­Natal: NMSA / Olig.03419 Ophathe Game Reserve (28º26'28"S: 31º24'09"E) hillside, grassland, between roots of grasses and various plants, 9 April 2001, 3 cl + 7 juv, AJA, PN .

Remarks: The species has been described from Ngome mistbelt forest. Current material was found southwards of the type locality. In recent individuals the clitellum was longer than observed in the type material on segments 13–22, but was extended over segments 13–1/n23, 24.

The sulcata species­group

To this group, characterised by spermathecal pores occurring in two intersegmental furrows 10/11 and 11/12, or 11/12 and 12/13, or 12/13 and 13/14, are assigned: sulcata * Kinberg, 1867, debbieae * sp. n., hiltonia * sp. n., qudeni * sp. n., annettae* Plisko, 1997, curiosa * Plisko, 1997, curta * Plisko & Zicsi, 1991, diversa * Plisko, 1997,

douglasi *, howickiana *, karkloofia *, lunata *, miniseta * Plisko, 1997, ngelensis * Plisko, 1997, shawi *, soleata * Plisko, 1997, ataxia ** Plisko, 1997, herbana ** Plisko, 1997, and palusicola ** Plisko, 1997. Most of the species, all marked with one asterisk, occur in KZN ( Fig. 14 ), although always in small areas. T. ataxia , herbana and palusicola , marked with two asterisks, occur in KZN and in neighbouring province Mpumalanga.

For douglasi , herbana , howickiana , karkloofia , lunata , shawi , and sulcata new data are provided. No new material available for annetteae , curiosa , curta , diversa , miniseta , ngelensis , soleata .

Figures

Fig. 14. The distribution of Tritogenia species in KZN. 1 = alveata; 2 = annetteae; 3 = ataxia; 4 = benhami; 5 = crassa; 6 = curiosa; 7 = curta; 8 = debbieae; 9 = diversa; 10 = douglasi; 11 = herbana; 12 = hiltonia; 13 = howickiana; 14 = insolita; 15 = karkloofia; 16 = koilia; 17 = liversagei; 18 = lunata; 19 = melmothana; 20 = miniseta; 21 = monosticha; 22 = morosa; 23 = mucosa; 24 = ngelensis; 25 = ngomensis; 26 = qudeni; 27 = shawi; 28 = soleata; 29 = sulcata; 30 = tetrata; 31 = zuluensis.