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, Amynthasxiangtanensis Qiu & Jin, sp. nov., Amynthastaoyuanensis Qiu & Jin, sp. nov., Amynthasxuanchengensis Jin & Li, sp. nov. and Metaphiredonganensis Jin & Jiang, sp. nov. Amynthasxiangtanensis sp. nov., and A.taoyuanensis sp. nov. belong to the Amynthascorticis 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. Amynthastaoyuanensis sp. nov. prostate glands are degenerated. Amynthasxuanchengensis sp. nov. belongs to the Amynthasmorrisi 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. Metaphiredonganensis sp. nov. belongs to the Metaphirehoulleti 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.