Pontoscolex corethrurus Müller, 1857

Aspe, Nonillon M., Manasan, Rafael Ethan, Manlavi, Albert B., Patiluna, Ma. Lotus E., Sebido, Maria Asela B., Obusan, Marie Christine M., Simbahan, Jessica F. & James, Samuel W., 2021, The earthworm fauna of Palawan, Philippines with description of nineteen new pheretimoid species (Clitellata: Megascolecidae), Journal of Natural History 55 (11 - 12), pp. 733-797 : 737-738

Pontoscolex corethrurus Müller, 1857

Diagnosis

Length 50–95 mm. Width 3–4 mm. Body unpigmented, no dorsal pores. Clitellum bright yellow to light orange from segment 14 or 15–22, with thickened ridge on the ventral clitellum margin. Genital pores very small or absent. Setae single-pointed, lumbricine in arrangement, with eight setae per segment, setal arrangement in the anterior part arranged in eight regular rows; setae after the clitellum to the posterior part arranged in offset pattern. Internally, a large gizzard is found in vi. Intestine is enlarged in segment xv. Intestinal caecum absent. Three pairs of calciferous glands, positioned dorsolaterally in vii, viii and ix. Hearts greatly enlarged in x and xi. Nephridial batteries are paired in iv and v. Pair of testis sacs located in xii extending to xi and a pair of seminal vesicles located in xiii. Three small pairs of spermathecae with slender ducts, small ampulla, with no diverticulum in vii–ix. Prostate glands and ovaries absent. Nephridia on spermathecal ducts absent.

Remarks

This pantropical species is reported to have originated from Brazil and is invasive in areas affected by anthropogenic activities. It is commonly found in agricultural and grasslands in the lowlands and is known to reproduce parthenogenetically, faster than any species that reproduces sexually.