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A Catalogue of the Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae (Clitellata: Lumbricina) from South America, with Two New Records of Exotic Species from Brazil

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A Catalogue of the Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae (Clitellata: Lumbricina) from South America, with Two New Records of Exotic Species from Brazil Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2017) 41: 599-614 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1604-74 A catalogue of the Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae (Clitellata: Lumbricina) from South America, with two new records of exotic species from Brazil 1, 2 2 José Eriberto DE ASSIS *, José Roberto Botelho SOUZA , Maria Laís Martins VIEIRA , 2 2 1 João Vitor NUNES DE SOUZA , Gilberto Gonçalves RODRIGUES , Martin Lindsey CHRISTOFFERSEN 1 Department of Systematics and Ecology, Exact and Natural Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil 2 Department of Zoology, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil Received: 30.04.2016 Accepted/Published Online: 14.01.2017 Final Version: 17.07.2017 Abstract: A catalogue of the terrestrial Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae is provided, with 10 genera and 18 species reported to date from South America. In addition, we provide the valid names, their synonyms, and the original citation. Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae contain members that have a global distribution, probably as a result of human dispersion. The species of eudrilidEudrilus eugeniae is very common in other regions with a tropical climate, while the megascolecid species Amynthas gracilis is by far the most common earthworm in large cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Two samples taken in Brazil revealed two new exotic species from this country: Amynthas robustus (Perrier, 1872) and Pithemera bicincta (Perrier, 1875), which are described and illustrated. Finally, we provide a taxonomic key to the genera of both families. Key words: Oligochaeta, exotic species, Eudrilidae, Megascolecidae, South America 1. Introduction some islands of the western Pacific Ocean) (Easton, 1982). The Eudrilidae earthworms are endemic to the Ethiopian About 40 species are found outside this area (Easton, 1982; region (Reynolds, 1994). They present extreme variations Blakemore, 2002, 2010). Many pheretimoids can jump by in the sexual apparatus, particularly of the female organs means of powerful contractions of the body (Omodeo, (Omodeo, 2000; Blakemore, 2002, 2010). Eudriline 2000). All megascolecids dealt with herein are members of evolution has resulted in economy of sperm production. this group. Modifications in the male apparatus appear to reduce, or Eisen (1900) and Michaelsen (1903, 1935) noticed prevent, gregarine ravages (Sims, 1987). Eudrilus eugeniae that, in the Caribbean, native earthworms were vanishing has achieved a pantropical distribution (Omodeo, 2000). from regions influenced by human activity and were being Megascolecidae is the most diverse family of earthworms replaced by exotic species. By now, it is well known that (Blakemore, 2002); it has over 1000 species (Sims and exotic species dominate in disturbed ecosystems, with Gerard, 1985; Blakemore, 2002). Most of them are native native species predominating in natural, undisturbed to Asia (Blakemore, 2002) and Australia (Sims and environments (Fragoso et al., 1995). Gerard, 1985). One genus of the family Acanthodrilidae, The rapid pace of habitat destruction in the tropical Diplocardia, is native to North America. Several genera of regions is widely recognized as a threat to biotic diversity. Megascolecidae sensu stricto [i.e. Arctiostrotus, Argilophilus, Peregrine species may eventually cover the tropical Chetcodrilus, Drilochaera, Driloleirus (the only meroic regions. Only a few native species are capable of surviving genus), Kincaidodrilus, Macnabodrilus, Nephrallaxis, and and coexisting with exotic worms in disturbed ecosystems Toutellus], placed under the as of yet poorly defined tribe (Fragoso et al., 1995). Argilophilini Fender & McKey-Fender, 1990 (Gates, 1942; Our aim is to provide a catalogue of the Eudrilidae and James, 1995; Blakemore, 2000, 2010), are native to North Megascolecidae reported to date from the South American America. Pheretima auct. (= the pheretimoids) is a group continent and describe and report two new exotic species of genera within Megascolecidae that are indigenous to the of pheretimoids for northeastern Brazil. We also provide a so-called Pheretima domain (all of southern Asia, Japan, the taxonomic key to the genera of the two families reported Indo-Australasian archipelago, the Solomon Islands, and herein. * Correspondence: [email protected] 599 DE ASSIS et al. / Turk J Zool 2. Materials and methods James and Brown, 2006): Vinhedo (Righi, 1968); São Data for geographical distribution were collected from Sebastião; Boituva; Campinas; São Paulo (Brown et al., earthworm bibliographies. We provide the following 2006); RJ: Petrópolis (Michaelsen, 1927); Nova Friburgo information: families, genera, species, and other groups, (Brown et al., 2006); MG: Juiz de Fora (Brown et al., 2006); organized alphabetically, with original citation, year of BA: Itajubá and Jequié; SE: Aracajú (Brown et al., 2006); publication, and all related citations from South America. PB: Areia (Guerra and Silva, 1994); PE: Recife (Righi, The synonyms are provided according to Blakemore (2010, 1967a, 1971); Ponta de Pedras; MA: São Luís (Brown et 2014). In the case of Amynthas corticis, those references al., 2006); PA: Vila de Maiauatá, margins of Pará River, pertaining to A. diffringens (Baird, 1869) and its synonyms 20 km southwest of Abaetetuba (Righi, 1972); COL: Valle have been removed from the synonymy of A. corticis, Dep.: Palmira (Feijoo, 2007); San Andrés Island (Reynolds as A. diffringens has been deemed valid by Blakemore and Reynolds, 2001). VEN: Caracas (Michaelsen, 1900a); (2013). We used 3-letter abbreviations for South American Portamer; Isla Margarita (Michaelsen, 1892; Zicsi, 1995a). countries (ARG, Argentina; BOL, Bolivia; BRA, Brazil; GUY and SUR (Beddard, 1887; Michaelsen, 1900a). FRG: CHI, Chile; COL, Colombia; ECU, Ecuador; FRG, French Saint Georges Oyapock (Michaelsen, 1900a; Cernosvitov, Guyana; GUY, Guyana; PER, Peru; SUR, Surinam; URU, 1934, 1935) (Figure 1A). Uruguay; VEN, Venezuela), and 2-letter abbreviations Further distribution: Caribbean region (Zicsi, 1995a). for sampled states in Brazil (AM, Amazonas; BA, Bahia; North America, Africa, Asia, New Caledonia (Gates, DF, Distrito Federal; MG, Minas Gerais; PA, Pará; PB, 1972), and Australia (Blakemore, 2002, 2010, 2014). Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; PR, Paraná; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; Genus Hyperiodrilus Beddard, 1890 RR, Roraima; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; SC, Santa Catarina; Type: Hyperiodrilus africanus Beddard, 1891 SP, São Paulo); “?” indicates taxonomic uncertainty. New 2. Hyperiodrilus africanus (Beddard, 1891) records herein are based on two samples taken on 28 Distribution: West and Central Africa: from Nigeria, April 2009 and 8 May 2010 in an urban area located in Ghana, and Ivory Coast to Chiloango River in “Portuguese Campina Grande, State of Paraíba, in northeastern Brazil Congo” (Blakemore, 2010); Pontas de Pedras, PE, Brazil (7°13′28″S, 35°52′2″W and 7°12′56″S, 35°53′50″W). They (Righi, 1972; Brown et al., 2006) (Figure 1A). were collected by hand-sorting, fixed in 10% formalin Family MEGASCOLECIDAE Rosa, 1891 solution, and preserved in 70% alcohol. The specimens are Genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 deposited in Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young of the Type: Amynthas aeruginosus Kinberg, 1867 Universidade Federal da Paraíba (LIPY). 3. Amynthas aeruginosus (Kinberg, 1867) Amyntas aeruginosus Kinberg, 1867: 101. [Type 3. Results locality: Guam, Marianas Islands. Types in Stockholm Taxonomy Museum: 154]. ?Perichaeta upoluensis Beddard, 1887: Suborder LUMBRICINA (part.) De Blainville, 1828 174, Pl V, figs. 11–12;Perichaeta oeriginosa (?lapsus pro Terricolae (part.) Örsted, 1843; Megadrili Benham, 1890 aeruginosa) Beddard, 1891: 278. Pheretima aeruginosus: Superfamily MEGASCOLECOIDEA Rosa, 1891 Michaelsen, 1900: 253 (syn. oeriginosa [sic]); Cognetti, Family EUDRILIDAE Claus, 1880 1913b: 37. ?Pheretima rennellana Gates, 1959: 11. [Type Genus Eudrilus Perrier, 1871 locality, Hutuna, Lake Te-Nggano, Rennell. Types in British Type: Eudrilus decipiens Perrier, 1871 (= E. eugeniae) Museum, 1957: 11: 5: 25–26]. Amynthas aeruginosus 9829 1031 (part): Sims and Easton, 1972: 211 (?syn. A. upoluensis, A. 1. Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867) rennellanus); Lee, 1981: 542, figs. 2–6 (?syn. A. upoluensis); Lumbricus eugeniae Kinberg, 1967: 98. [Type locality: Blakemore, 1997: 22, fig. 2 (part = A rennellanus). humid mountains and Valley of St Helena Island (British Distribution: PR (Sautter et al., 2006): Prudentópolis protectorate) in South Atlantic. Types are in Stockholm (Brown et al., 2006; Brawn and James, 2006) (Figure 1B). Museum and/or in British Museum BMNH 1904.10.5.549 Further distribution: Pacific Ocean (Michaelsen, or 550]. 1900a; Blakemore, 2010). Eudrilus decipiens Perrier, 1871: 1176; Eudrilus lacazii + 4. Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) peregrinus Perrier, 1872: 75, 77/78; Eudrilus boyeri Beddard, Perichaeta corticis Kinberg, 1867; Megascolex (Perichaeta) 1886: 302; Eudrilus sylvicola Beddard, 1887: 372. Eudrilus diffringens Baird, 1869; Perichaeta subquadrangula Grube, jullieni Horst, 1890: 225; Eudrilus roseus Michaelsen, 1892: 1877; Perichaeta sp. Horst, 1878; Megascolex indicus Horst, 224; Eudrilus erudiens Ude, 1893: 71. 1883; Perichaeta peregrina Fletcher, 1886; ?Perichaeta Distribution: BRA (Righi, 1967a): PR (Nunes et al., mirabilis Bourne, 1887; ?Perichaeta sp. Garmann, 1888; 2006; Sautter et al., 2006); Londrina; Ibiaci (Brown et al., Perichaeta heterochaeta Michaelsen, 1891;
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