Holotype. Philippines • 1 clitellate; Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, near a lake; 12°45.32'N, 124°04.34'E, 350–400 m a.s.l., 3 May 2001, S.W. James leg.; NMA 4802.

Philippines • 1 semi-clitellate; same data as for holotype • 1 clitellate; Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Aguinay crater edge; 12°46.6'N, 124°04.6'E; 792 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2001; S.W. James leg.

Philippines, Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, near a lake (12°45.32'N, 124°04.34'E), 350–400 m.

Pheretima with one pair of spermathecal pores located deep in the intersegmental furrow between 7/8 at 10^th setal lines, equatorial unpigmented stripes, intestinal origin in XVI, spermathecae in VII, septa 8/9/10 present, all setal counts exceed 40, and seminal vesicle dorsal lobes are stalked and distinct from the main vesicle.

Dorsum violet-brown, ventrum pigmented I–IV, setal zones unpigmented widening ventrally, ventral XVIII–XX unpigmented; elsewhere light brown pigment adjacent to ventral intersegmental furrows. Dimensions 116–138 mm by 7 mm at segment X, 7.3 mm at XXX, 6.5 mm at clitellum, segments 97–104; body slightly oval in cross-section. Dorsal setae slightly larger and more widely spaced than ventral in pre-clitellar segments, setae numbering 43–47 at VII, 55–75 at XX; 10 between male pores, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 4:3:5:12 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI; setae not visible externally. First dorsal pores 12/13. One pair of spermathecal pores deep in 7/8 at 10^th setal line, ventro-laterally placed, distance between spermathecal pores 5.3–6.0 mm, 0.18–0.27 circumference apart. Female pore single in XIV, transverse slit openings of copulatory bursae paired in XVIII at 9^th setal lines, ventrally placed, distance between openings 3.8–4.7 mm, 0.12–0.19 circumference apart. Genital markings lacking.

Figure 1. 

Pheretima bulusanensis sp. nov. A. Ventral view; B. Spermathecae. Scale bars: 7 mm (A); 1 mm (B).

Septa 5/6, 6/7 thick, 7/8 thin, 8/9/10 very thin, 10/11–13/14 thick. Gizzard in VIII–X, intestine begins in XVI, small pairs of lymph glands from XXVII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple originating in XXVII, and extending anteriorly about to XXIII, big finger-shaped sac; typhlosole low fold 1/6 lumen diameter. Hearts in X–XIII esophageal; X very small, IX lateral.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII, spermathecae one pair in VII, with nephridia on ducts; spermatheca with big globular or mushroom-shaped ampulla; stout barrel-shaped muscular, duct longer than ampulla, diverticulum with egg-shaped, iridescent chamber, stalk very short. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X–XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI–XII, small stalked dorsal lobes attached in shallow clefts, prostates in XVII–XVIII, two or three lobes wrapped around copulatory bursae, muscular ducts hooked anteriorly to near center of copulatory bursae; copulatory bursae openings surrounded by toroid pad divided into four wedges; male pores on large, barrel-shaped penis from copulatory bursae roof.

Pheretima bulusanensis sp. nov. belongs to the sangirensis group of Sims and Easton (1972), which are characterized by a single pair of spermathecal pores in 7/8. The P. sangirensis group taxonomic history was reviewed by James (2004b). Based on a review of the recently published members of the group (James 2004b; Hong and James 2008a, 2011b, 2021; Aspe and James 2014, 2016, 2017) as well as several unpublished descriptions (Hong and James unpublished data), the present species can be distinguished from all other known species by the combination of equatorial unpigmented stripes, intestinal origin in XVI, spermathecae in VII, septa present in 8/9/10, and all setal counts being >40. Applying these filters, only this and the other two species described in this study are left for comparison. We observed that between P. bulusanensis sp. nov. and P. sorsogonensis sp. nov. the latter has fewer setae per segment throughout the body and between the male pores, closer genital pore spacing, lighter pigmentation that does not extend to the ventrum, a much smaller body size, and absence of septa 8/9/10. Even though the presence of septa was included in the “filter” list, this was currently disregarded due to it is difficult to observe under optimal dissection conditions. However, this character helps distinguish P. blackbirdensis sp. nov., which has septum 8/9. Other differences are that P. blackbirdensis sp. nov. has more setae in the preclitellar segments, somewhat closer genital pore spacing, seminal vesicle dorsal lobes that are apically (vs stalked in clefts) attached to the main vesicles, and prostatic ducts that enter the posterior face of the copulatory bursae rather than the center anterior. The two species differ slightly in size, with P. blackbirdensis sp. nov. being smaller.

The species is named for its type locality on Mount Bulusan.

Holotype. Philippines • 1 clitellate; Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, near a lake; 12°45.32'N, 124°04.34'E; 350–400 m a.s.l.; 3 May 2001; S.W. James leg.; NMA 4803.

Philippines • 2 clitellates, 1 aclitellate; same data as for holotype.

Philippines, Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, near a lake (12°45.32'N, 124°04.34'E), 350–400 m a.s.l.

Pheretima with one pair of spermathecal pores in 7/8 at 7^th setal line, equatorial unpigmented stripes, intestinal origin in XVI, spermathecae in VII, septa 8/9/10 absent, all setal counts greater than 40, 4–6 setae between male pores, and seminal vesicle dorsal lobes apically attached, elongate with wide heads.

Medium light-brown dorsal pigment, with thin pale zones at setal rings. Dimensions 56–68 mm by 3.0–3.5 at segment X, 3.3–3.4 mm at XXX, 3.0–3.5 mm at clitellum, segments 97–108; body circular in cross-section. Setae numbering 39–42 at VII, 45–50 at XX; 4–6 between male pores, slightly more crowded ventrally, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 2.5:2:3:4 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI, setae not visible externally. First dorsal pores 12/13. One pair large spermathecal pore in 7/8 at 7^th setal line, overhanging lip from VII slightly lateral to pore, distance between spermathecal pores around 1.6–1.8 mm, 0.11–0.15 circumference apart. Female pore single in XIV, 0.3–0.4 mm openings of copulatory bursae paired in XVIII at 5^th setal line, ventral, distance between 1.4–1.5 mm, 0.11–0.13 circumference apart. Genital markings lacking.

Figure 2. 

Pheretima sorsogonensis sp. nov. A. Ventral view; B. Spermathecae. Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B).

Septa 5/6, 6/7, 7/8 muscular but not thick, 8/9, 9/10 absent, 10/11–12/13 moderately thick. Gizzard in VIII–X. Esophagus with chevron lamellae XI–XIII; intestine begins in XVI; small, paired lymph glands from XXVII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple originating in XXVII, and extending anteriorly about to XXIV, tapered sac with some pockets on ventral margins; typhlosole very small found from XXVII, 30 intestinal blood vessels. Hearts in X–XIII esophageal.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII, spermathecae one pair in VII, with nephridia on ducts; spermatheca with thick lenticular ampulla, weakly muscular duct shorter than ampulla; diverticulum chamber small, egg-shaped, iridescent pearl-colored, stalk slender, one or two kinks close to duct. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X–XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI–XII, dorsal lobes apical, elongate with wide heads, prostates in XVII–XX, glands 2–3 lobes wrapped around copulatory bursae, muscular ducts form U-shape concave anteriorly on posterior of copulatory bursae lacking stalked glands; duct enters center of copulatory bursae; copulatory bursae openings surrounded toroid pad divided into four wedges, penis triangular block with apical pore.

Pheretima sorsogonensis sp. nov. has been distinguished from P. bulusanensis sp. nov. and all other known members of the sangirensis group. The final comparison is with P. blackbirdensis sp. nov., from which it differs in having a smaller body size yet greater number of setae, fewer setae between the male pores, and far fewer intestinal blood vessels. In terms of spermathecae, the P. sorsogonensis sp. nov. has weak muscular ducts much shorter than the ampulla, whereas P. blackbirdensis sp nov. has muscular ducts that are nearly as long as the ampulla.

The species is named for its type locality in Sorsogon Province.

Holotype. Philippines • 1 clitellate; Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, at large dry crater bed called Aguinay; 12°46.60'N, 124°04.60'E; 792 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2001; S.W. James leg.; NMA 4804.

Philippines • 2 clitellates, same data as for holotype.

Philippines, Sorsogon Province, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, at large dry crater bed called Aguinay (12°46.60'N, 124°04.60'E), 792 m a.s.l.

One pair spermathecal pores deep in 7/8 at 10^th setal line, equatorial unpigmented stripes, intestinal origin in XVI, spermathecae in VII, septum 8/9 present, all setal counts greater than 40, long muscular spermathecal ducts, seminal vesicle dorsal lobes triangular not differentiated from main vesicles.

Dorsal pigment medium purple-brown, absent from setal rings; unpigmented stripes interrupted at dorsal setal gaps. Dimensions 85 mm by 8 at segment X, 7 mm at XXX, 7.5 mm at clitellum, segments 62; body oval in cross-section. Setae numbering 52 at VII, 60 at XX, 14 between male pores, spacing greater in dorsum, setal formula AA:AB:YZ:ZZ = 3:2.5:12:3.5 at XIII. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI, setae not visible externally. First dorsal pores 11/12. One pair of spermathecal pores deep in 7/8 at 10^th setal lines, sub-lateral, distance between spermathecal pores 5 mm, 0.20 circumference apart. Female pore single in XIV, openings of copulatory bursa paired in XVIII centered between 10^th–11^th setal lines, 4 mm between openings, 0.17 circumference apart. Genital markings lacking.

Figure 3. 

Pheretima blackbirdensis sp. nov. A. Ventral view; B. Spermathecae; Scale bars: 10 mm (A); 1 mm (B).

Septa 5/6–7/8 thinly muscular, 8/9 membranous, 9/10 absent, 10/11–13/14 thinly muscular. Gizzard in VIII, intestine begins in XVI, paired lymph glands from XXVIII along dorsal vessel; intestinal caeca simple originating in XVII, and extending anteriorly about to XXIII, finger-shaped sac; typhlosole small from XXVII. Hearts in X–XIII esophageal, 42–44 intestinal blood vessels.

Ovaries and funnels in XIII, spermathecae one pair in VII, with nephridia on ducts, wrinkled spherical ampulla; duct very muscular, broad based bulbous cone almost as long as ampulla, diverticulum chamber broad asymmetrical oval, stalk shorter than ampulla. Several spherical spermatophores with long tails in each ampulla. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally paired sacs in X–XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI–XII, medium-sized with triangular dorsal lobes not distinctly marked from main vesicle, prostates in XVII–XVIII, with muscular ducts curving around posterior of copulatory bursae, entering posterior face of copulatory bursae without stalked glands; copulatory bursae openings surrounded by torus-shaped pad incompletely divided into four or five unequal wedges; penis a short cylinder with central conical protrusion bearing apical male pore.

Pheretima blackbirdensis sp. nov. differs from the other two new species described above, including their spermathecal morphology. Comparing the spermathecal ducts, P. sorsogonensis sp. nov. has weak muscular ducts much shorter than the ampulla, whereas P. blackbirdensis sp. nov. has ducts that are very muscular and nearly as long as the ampulla.

This species is intermediate in size between the other two described here but has far fewer segments (62 vs 100 or so). However, it cannot be confirmed whether the specimens had lost some segments to predators.

The species is named for Lake Blackbird, which is close to the type locality.