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Abstract
Three new earthworm species are described from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Two belong to the genus Pithemera Sims & Easton, 1972, namely P.suwastikai Fahri, Amaliah & Atmowidi, sp. n. and P.tadulako Fahri, Amaliah & Atmowidi, sp. n. The new species, P.suwastikaisp. n. is distinguished by a medium size (135–165 mm long, 4.5–6.5 mm diameter), four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6/7/8/9, 7–12 setae between male pores, no genital markings, holandry, and simple intestinal caeca. Pithemeratadulakosp. n. is recognized by a large size (217–340 mm long, 13–15 mm diameter), two pairs of spermathecal pores in 7/8/9, no setae between male pores, no genital markings, holandry, and simple intestinal caeca. Another new species, Metaphirerusydii Fahri, Amaliah & Nguyen, sp. n., is diagnosed by its large size (250–280 mm long,12–16 mm diameter), two pairs of spermathecal pores in 7/8/9, no setae between male porophores, presence of genital markings in the male region, holandry, and complex intestinal caeca. Additionally, an identification key to “caecate” species is provided to the Sulawesi’s fauna.
Highlights
Earthworms with intestinal caeca consists of four genera belonging to family Megascolecidae, namely Pithemera Sims & Easton, 1972, Amynthas Kinberg, 1867, Pheretima Kinberg, 1867, and Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972
Two genera Pithemera and Metaphire have been reported from various regions surrounding Sulawesi, for example, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, New Guinea and other parts of Indonesia (Ude 1905, 1932; Gates 1975; Benham 1897; Beddard 1899; Michaelsen 1899; Hong et al 2008; Nguyen et al 2016), they both have never been recorded in Sulawesi until this research
Holotypes and paratypes are deposited in Museum of Zoology in Bogor (MZB); some are housed in Tadulako University (UNTAD)
Summary
Earthworms with intestinal caeca consists of four genera belonging to family Megascolecidae, namely Pithemera Sims & Easton, 1972, Amynthas Kinberg, 1867, Pheretima Kinberg, 1867, and Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972. This group is distributed in the Oriental to Australian region (Sims and Easton 1972). Of those genera, Metaphire can be recognized by the presence of intestinal caeca in segment xxvii, the presence of copulatory pouches, and no nephridia on spermathecal ducts (Sims and Easton 1972). Our work contributes to a better understanding of earthworm diversity in Sulawesi though the description of three new species
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