Work

Three new species and a new record of pheretimoid earthworms (Crassiclitellata, Megascolecidae) from Misamis Oriental, Philippines, with data from the mitochondrial genome

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We describe three new species of pheretimoid earthworms from Misamis Oriental, Mindanao Island, Philippines. One species is Polypheretima andresi sp. nov. , belonging to the Polypheretima elongata group of Easton (1979), characterized 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. Two species belong to Pheretima , namely Pheretima elnorroae sp. nov. of the Pheretima sangirensis species group of Sims and Easton (1972), characterized by having a pair of spermathecal pores in the intersegmental furrow of 7/8, and Pheretima naawanensis sp. nov. of the Pheretima dubia species group of Sims and Easton (1972), characterized by having three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9. Furthermore, for the first time, Metaphire bahli has been recorded on Mindanao Island. The mitochondrial genomes of the four species are provided, which included 13 protein-coding genes. A phylogenetic analysis is performed, and the taxonomic status of the four species is supported. The newly described species confirms the diverse assemblage of earthworms in the Philippines and highlights the need for extensive surveys of earthworms and investigating them for potential uses and applications.

Source: Zoosystematics and Evolution

DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.135702