Nine new species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) of the Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

Abstract

Earthworm specimens collected from the Philippines from Banaue, Ifugao Province belong to 9 new species of pheretimoid earthworms. Two new species of Pheretima as characterized by Sims and Easton (1972) were found, including Pheretima banauensis sp. n., and Pheretima cabigati sp. n. They have spermathecae in VII-VIII and VI-IX, respectively. Four new species of Pithemera are Pithemera duhuani sp. n., Pithemera fragumae sp. n. and Pithemera ifugaoensis sp. n. of the Pi. bicincta group, having spermathecae in segments V-IX, and Pithemera triangulata with three pairs of spermathecae in segment V-VII. Three new species of Polypheretima are Polypheretima fruticosa sp. n., Polypheretima perlucidula sp. n., and Polypheretima bannaworensis sp. n. with paired spermathecae in VI, VI-VII, and VI-IX, respectively. Descriptions of the new species are provided.