Three new species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Yunnan Province, China

Zootaxa. 2019 Sep 4;4664(3):zootaxa.4664.3.6. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4664.3.6.

Abstract

Earthworm specimens collected from Yunnan Province, China were found to represent three new species of Megascolecidae: Amynthas demptus sp. nov., Amynthas lacustris sp. nov. and Metaphire reclusa sp. nov. A. demptus belongs to Amynthas hawayanus-group and has three pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6-7/8. A. lacustris belongs to Amynthas morrisi-group and has two pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6-6/7. M. reclusa has no spermathecal pores. A. demptus has no male pores. The male pores of A. lacustris are about 1/3 body circumference ventrally apart, with a presetal and a postsetal papilla medial to each pore, surrounded with two circular folds. The male pores of M. reclusa are in copulatory chambers at XVIII, with openings of copulatory chambers about 1/3 body circumference ventrally apart. In this paper, the morphological characters of the three new species are described. We also sequenced COI and 12S gene fragments of the holotypes and selected paratype specimens to provide molecular data.

Keywords: Araneae, earthworm, Megascolecidae, Amynthas, Metaphire, new species.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • China
  • Male
  • Oligochaeta*