The earthworm fauna of Palawan, Philippines with description of nineteen new pheretimoid species (Clitellata: Megascolecidae)

• Published in: Journal of natural history 2021-03, Vol.55 (11-12), p.733-797
• Main Authors: 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.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amynthas; Males; Metaphire; New species; Palawan; Pheretima; Philippines; Polypheretima; Pores; Worms
• ISSN: 0022-2933; 1464-5262
• DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1923849

We described 19 new species of pheretimoid earthworms in Palawan, Philippines. Of these, eight are Pheretima belonging to the Ph. darnleiensis group, characterised by having either four or five pairs of spermathecal pores located in 5/6-8/9. These were Pheretima ingentis sp. nov., Ph. palawanensis sp. nov., Ph. atongensis sp. nov., Ph. ascensa sp. nov., Ph. marinanaensis sp. nov., Ph. brookespointensis sp. nov., Ph. multicamera sp. nov., and Ph. hamadryades sp. nov. Seven are Polypheretima, of which Polypheretima victoriaensis sp. nov., Po. irawanensis sp. nov., Po. jenniferae sp. nov., Po. puertoprincesaensis sp. nov., Po. fleischmani sp. nov., and Po. mantalingahanensis sp. nov. belong to the Po. elongata group, characterised by having a pair of genital markings in xix, successive segments in line with the male pores, paired batteries of up to 28 spermathecae in vi and/or vii, and shallow copulatory bursae, while Po. zonadimidia sp. nov. is unique among all Polypheretima species in having a saddle-shaped clitellum and in having a pair of genital markings on xiv, xv, xvii and xix in line with the male pores. Two species are Amynthas, namely Am. magnaprostata sp. nov. of the Am. sieboldi group, characterised by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7-8/9 and a holandric male system, and Am. elnidoensis sp. nov. of the Am. minimus group, characterised by having a pair of spermathecal pores in 5/6. Also, two are Metaphire, namely Me. santalourdesensis sp. nov. of the Me. merabahensis group, characterised by having three pairs of spermathecal pores at 5/6-7/8, and Me. narraensis sp. nov. of the Me. peguana group, characterised by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7-8/9 and post-clitellar genital markings at 17/18 and 18/19. With thorough biological surveys in Palawan, we expect that more species will be discovered in this biogeographic faunal region. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:04B185DB-7D43-42B1-9497-C28B3228BDF0 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:23954AD0-3C7A-46D3-AD5A-BF8F50681338 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A1B3ED85-A649-4692-A2E4-5A53D76236E1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1EFB06B6-3D92-40E8-B337-C09DAA342B57 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CE333FA2-B3D8-4B65-B915-5328AF53D715 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:31851231-C527-4E50-AFD4-BF9AA22EAD12 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:105E5C1D-8BF6-444E-B4B0-EC511A155A49 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3CA8628E-0458-49EE-8BE2-49A6143D39DC urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:75AB66AC-7B43-4A7C-B0CE-089CEE28A8C3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:26B59F17-9318-485