Four new earthworm species of the genera Amynthas and Metaphire (Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae) from Hunan and Anhui provinces, China

Abstract

This paper describes four new species earthworms from Hunan and Anhui provinces, China, Amynthas xiangtanensis Qiu & Jin, sp. nov., Amynthas taoyuanensis Qiu & Jin, sp. nov., Amynthas xuanchengensis Jin & Li, sp. nov. and Metaphire donganensis Jin & Jiang, sp. nov. Amynthas xiangtanensis sp. nov., and A. taoyuanensis sp. nov. belong to the Amynthas corticis group. Both have four pairs of intersegmental spermathecal pores in 5/6–8/9; male pores in segment XVIII, separated by 1/3 of body circumference, each on top of a slightly raised porophore, surrounded by several tiny genital papillae. Amynthas taoyuanensis sp. nov. prostate glands are degenerated. Amynthas xuanchengensis sp. nov. belongs to the Amynthas morrisi group, it has two pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6 and 6/7; male pores in XVIII, separated by 1/3 of body circumference, each on top of a slightly raised, circular porophore. Metaphire donganensis sp. nov. belongs to the Metaphire houlleti group. It has three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9; male pores in XVIII, separated by 1/3 of body circumference, each on the bottom center of the longitudinal copulatory chamber.