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Tuatara: Volume 8, Issue 1, October 1959

Figs. 1, 2. ‘Typical’ native (megascolecid) earthworms. Those two figures illustrate typical features of the most common kinds of New Zealand megascolecids — Fig. 1: Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering dorsal, lateral and ventro-lateral surfaces of 13-19. Chaetae arranged in four pairs per segment (except segment 1), a ventro-lateral pair and a dorso-lateral pair on each side. Two pairs of prostatic pores, a pair on 17 and a pair on 19, each pore situated …

Figs. 1, 2. ‘Typical’ native (megascolecid) earthworms. Those two figures illustrate typical features of the most common kinds of New Zealand megascolecids Fig. 1: Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering dorsal, lateral and ventro-lateral surfaces of 13-19. Chaetae arranged in four pairs per segment (except segment 1), a ventro-lateral pair and a dorso-lateral pair on each side. Two pairs of prostatic pores, a pair on 17 and a pair on 19, each pore situated on a prominent papilla. The two prostatic pores of each side joined by a longitudinal seminal groove, passing across 18. Male pores one on each side, on 18, in the seminal grooves. Spermathecal pores ventro-lateral, in intersegmental furrows, a pair in each of furrows 7/8 and 8/9. Tubercula pubertatis on 11, 12, 20 and 21; on 11 there are two small tubercula, symmetrically arranged, one each side of the ventral mid-line. On 12, 20 and 21 the tubercula are unpaired and lie across the ventral mid-line. Fig. 2: Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering entire surface of 14-16. Chaetae numerous on each segment except the first, closely spaced on ventro-lateral, lateral and dorso-lateral aspects of the segments, with wide ventral and dorsal spaces. One pair of combined male and prostatic pores, on 18, each pore situated on a prominent papilla. Spermathecal pores ventro-lateral, in intersegmental furrows, a pair in each of furrows 5/6, 6/7, 7/8 and 8/9. No tubercula pubertatis. Fig 3. ‘Typical’ introduced (lumbricid) earthworm Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering dorsal and lateral surfaces of 28-34 (i.e. clitellum much further back than in megascolecids). Tubercula pubertatis on clitellum as swollen lateral or ventro-lateral ridges, in this on 31-33. Chaetae arranged in four pairs on each segment except the first, a ventro-lateral pair and a dorso-lateral pair on each side. Male pores on 15 (in some lumbricids they are on 13 or 14), one on each side, ventro-lateral; the pores have thickened lips which may (as in this figure) overlap the intersegmental furrows and extend on to adjacent segments. There are no prostatic pores. Spermathecal pores in lumbricid species are usually dorso-lateral, sometimes absent.

Figs. 1, 2. ‘Typical’ native (megascolecid) earthworms. Those two figures illustrate typical features of the most common kinds of New Zealand megascolecids
Fig. 1: Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering dorsal, lateral and ventro-lateral surfaces of 13-19. Chaetae arranged in four pairs per segment (except segment 1), a ventro-lateral pair and a dorso-lateral pair on each side. Two pairs of prostatic pores, a pair on 17 and a pair on 19, each pore situated on a prominent papilla. The two prostatic pores of each side joined by a longitudinal seminal groove, passing across 18. Male pores one on each side, on 18, in the seminal grooves. Spermathecal pores ventro-lateral, in intersegmental furrows, a pair in each of furrows 7/8 and 8/9. Tubercula pubertatis on 11, 12, 20 and 21; on 11 there are two small tubercula, symmetrically arranged, one each side of the ventral mid-line. On 12, 20 and 21 the tubercula are unpaired and lie across the ventral mid-line.
Fig. 2: Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering entire surface of 14-16. Chaetae numerous on each segment except the first, closely spaced on ventro-lateral, lateral and dorso-lateral aspects of the segments, with wide ventral and dorsal spaces. One pair of combined male and prostatic pores, on 18, each pore situated on a prominent papilla. Spermathecal pores ventro-lateral, in intersegmental furrows, a pair in each of furrows 5/6, 6/7, 7/8 and 8/9. No tubercula pubertatis.
Fig 3. ‘Typical’ introduced (lumbricid) earthworm
Note— Anterior segments larger than posterior segments. Clitellum covering dorsal and lateral surfaces of 28-34 (i.e. clitellum much further back than in megascolecids). Tubercula pubertatis on clitellum as swollen lateral or ventro-lateral ridges, in this on 31-33. Chaetae arranged in four pairs on each segment except the first, a ventro-lateral pair and a dorso-lateral pair on each side. Male pores on 15 (in some lumbricids they are on 13 or 14), one on each side, ventro-lateral; the pores have thickened lips which may (as in this figure) overlap the intersegmental furrows and extend on to adjacent segments. There are no prostatic pores. Spermathecal pores in lumbricid species are usually dorso-lateral, sometimes absent.