Pheretima alba James 2004, new species
Creators: name: James, Samuel W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2004
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Annelida
Clitellata
Opisthopora
Megascolecidae
Pheretima
Pheretima alba

description: <i>Pheretima alba</i>, new species (Figs. 3G, H) <i>Material examined. –</i> Holotype - preclitellate (NMA 003985), Philippines, Mindanao Island, Bukidnon Province, Mt. Kitanglad Range, 18 km S, 17 km. E of Baungon, 8 9' N, 124 45' E, 1800 m. elevation, coll. D. Balete, no date. <i>Etymology. –</i> The species name refers to its lack of pigmentation. <i>Description. –</i> Unpigmented, body 49 x 2.0 mm (vii), 2.5 (x), 2.3 mm (xxv), 104 segments; body cylindrical in crosssection with long taper towards tail. First dorsal pore 13/14, spermathecal pores paired in 7/8, 0.13 circumference apart, female pore single in xiv, openings of copulatory bursae paired in xviii, 0.10 circumference apart in 3 rd setal line, 0 setae between openings. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators; 38 setae on vii, 36 setae on xx; in vii ZZ: YZ = 2.0, in xx ZZ: YZ = 2.1, no ventral gaps. Clitellum not developed; no genital markings (Fig. 3G). Septa all thin, 8/9, 9/10 not seen. Large gizzard in viii, esophagus with vertical lamellae xi-xiii, intestinal origin xvi, simple caeca originating in xxvii, extending forward to xxv, ventral margin smooth; typhlosole xxvii-lxvi, simple fold 0.25 lumen diameter; 24 longitudinal blood vessels in intestinal wall xxvii- xl. Hearts x-xiii esophageal, though no supra-esophageal vessel visible in x, commissural vessels vi, vii, ix lateral; viii to gizzard; supra-esophageal vessel xi-xiv, extra-esophageal vessel not seen; efferent parieto-esophageal vessels join esophageal wall in xiii. Nephridia of intestinal segments pre-and post-septal at septum-body wall junctions, dense tufts of nephridia on anterior faces of 5/6, 6/7. Ovaries and funnels free in xiii, spermathecae paired, preseptal in vii with nephridia on ducts; each spermatheca with sac-shaped ampulla, broad muscular duct longer than ampulla, stalked diverticulum terminating in sausage-shaped receptacle, stalks with one or two kinks (Fig. 3H). Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels enclosed in paired sacs in x, xi; all sacs separate; seminal vesicles xi, xii with dorsal lobe; vasa deferentia free from body wall en route to ental end of prostatic ducts; each prostate racemose, occupying xvii-xix, bilobed, lobes wrapped around copulatory bursa, stout muscular duct entering apex of vertically-oriented egg-shaped copulatory bursa in xviii; coelomic surface of copulatory bursae muscular, lacking glandular or other projections; no pads, very slender penis from roof of copulatory bursa. <i>Remarks. –</i> This species also keys to the <i>P</i>. <i>sangirensis</i> group in Sims &amp; Easton (1972), but differs from the previously known species in having the combination of paired spermathecae in vii, intestinal origin in xvi, unpigmented body wall, and an egg-shaped copulatory bursa mounted on its apex, which condition it shares with the monothecal <i>P</i>. <i>monoporata</i>. Additional differences from <i>P</i>. <i>paucisetosa</i> are noted above, plus the lack of pads in the copulatory bursae.
description: Published as part of <i>James, Samuel W., 2004, New Species Of Amynthas, Pheretima And Pleionogaster (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) Of The Mt. Kitanglad Range, Mindanao Island, Philippines, pp. 289-313 in Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (2)</i> on page 304, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4618925