Abstract

This paper describes 15 new and five known endemic earthworm species, and provides keys to New South Wales genera. Two new species of Plutellus require expansion of the generic diagnosis to allow species with short stalks to the calciferous glands (always subordinate to the plesiomorphic tubular prostates that characterise this genus and distinguish it from Heteroporodrilus). For Vesiculodrilus, the nominal type species of the genus, V. frenchi (Spencer, 1892), is redescribed and figured on a neotype. Nephridial vesicles, essential for inclusion in Vesiculodrilus, are newly reported in V. frenchi. Two new species from Mt Kosciuszko are added to this genus. Syntypes of Heteroporodrilus canaliculatus (Fletcher, 1889) and H. mediterreus (Fletcher, 1887b) are rediscovered, lectotypes are designated, and these species are redescribed. Six new species are added to Heteroporodrilus requiring the generic diagnosis to be amended to accept calciferous glands that are stalked, sessile, or annular. Intermittent nephropore alternation to mid-setal lines, once thought diagnostic only of H. shephardi (Spencer, 1900), is reported in several other species. The close affinities amongst heteroporodrilids widely distributed in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia is accounted for by fluvial transport along the river systems such as the Murray-Darling. New material of Cryptodrilus fastigatus Fletcher, 1889 is described and a congeneric species proposed, allowing explanation of the intraspecific variation in their male fields: The pore-like 'genital markings' are actually modified nephropores that function for excretion, rather than copulation. One species of Megascolides from Bago-Maragle State Forest is newly described; variation in forms of tubular prostates is briefly considered in remarks following this species' description. Two new species are added to Notoscolex, and one new species to Digaster.

 
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Bibliographic Data

Short Form
Blakemore, 2000, Rec. Aust. Mus. 52(2): 187–222
Author
R. J. Blakemore
Year
2000
Title
Native earthworms (Oligochaeta) from southeastern Australia, with the description of fifteen new species
Serial Title
Records of the Australian Museum
Volume
52
Issue
2
Start Page
187
End Page
222
DOI
10.3853/j.0067-1975.52.2000.1314
Language
en
Date Published
29 November 2000
Cover Date
29 November 2000
ISSN (print)
0067-1975
CODEN
RAUMAJ
Publisher
The Australian Museum
Place Published
Sydney, Australia
Subjects
OLIGOCHAETA; TAXONOMY
Digitized
29 November 2000
Available Online
29 November 2000
Reference Number
1314
EndNote
1314.enw
Title Page
1314.pdf
File size: 9kB
Complete Work
1314_complete.pdf
File size: 1203kB