Earthworms (Oligochaeta) from islands of the south-western pacific, and a note on two species from papua new guinea

Abstract

Earthworms collected from the southwestern Pacific islands of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Kermadecs on the 1980 expedition of the Soviet Research Ship Kallisto, and by other expeditions and surveys, are discussed. Nineteen species are listed: 2 are new, 12 are new records for the area, and 6 are new records for individual islands. The 2 new species are Polypheretima neg- lecta n. sp. and Metapheretima sergei n. sp. The littoral species of the genus Pontodrilus are reviewed and are considered to be synonymous. The type species of the genus Drawida is redescribed. Polypheretima tamarae n. sp. is described from Papua New Guinea. The origin of the earthworm fauna of the south-western Pacific is discussed and a key to the earthworms recorded from the south-western Pacific is provided.Details of the nephridial systems of 2 species of Polypheretima from Papua New Guinea are given in an appendix. © 1984 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.