Polypheretima colonensis

Polypheretima colonensis (Thai, 1996)

(Fig. 3)

Pheretima colonensis Thai, 1996: 1, fig. 2A.

Polypheretima colonensis — Nakamura 1999: 7; Blakemore 2007: 24.

Type material. 7A (SORC-HV.222) Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, Conlon Island, Nha Bang slope, 6200m asl, 24–26 June 1989, coll. Thai Tran Bai (Thai 1996).

Description. Body cylindrical, unpigmented. Prostomium prolobous. First dorsal pore in 11/12. Setae all fine and regularly distributed on pre- and postclitellar segments, 97(22) in V, 89 in VIII, 72 in XIII, 50+ 4 in XVIII, 80(16) in XIX, 74 in XXV, aa=2ab, zz=2zy. Male porophore superficial, on an eyelike circular plate. Crescentic genital markings present in association with male porophores. No other genital markings in spermathecal and male regions. Spermathecal pores 2 pairs, ventral in furrows 5/6/7, about 0.25 body circumference apart. Ampulla heartshaped, divercula short, attaching to duct. Metandric. Testes sacs ventral in XI, not separated. Seminal vesicles in XII. Ovaries and ovisacs well developed in XIII. Last hearts in XIII. Intestine beginning at XVII, without caeca. Typhlosole simple, lamelliform, T=0.12. Septa 8/9 and 10/11 absent, 5/6/ 7/8 and 9/10 thickened, 11/12/13 slightly thickened. Pharyngeal micronephridia in 7/8. (Data from Thai 1996: 1–2.)

Records from Vietnam. Ba Ria—Vung Tau Province (Conlon Island).

Distribution. Only known from Vietnam.

Remarks. The species is fairly similar to Polypheretima sepikensis Ude, 1924, but it is metandric, genital markings and accessory glands are absent, and the first dorsal pore is in 11/12. There are crescentic markings in front of and behind the male pores, but they differ from the crescentic genital markings of Metapheretima sensu Easton (1979). Types were rechecked for this study.