Seven new species of the earthworm genus Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972 from Thailand (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) Author Bantaowong, Ueangfa Author Chanabun, Ratmanee Author James, Samuel W. Author Panha, Somsak text Zootaxa 2016 4117 1 63 84 journal article 38976 10.11646/zootaxa.4117.1.3 09abc5a1-9fc3-4177-8f98-34844266eb9c 1175-5326 259121 B9FF07F1-5A02-4EB6-9AD7-F85B0AA18A76 Metaphire perichaeta ( Beddard, 1900 ) ( Figure 8 , Table 2 ) Amyntas perichaeta Beddard, 1900 : 896 –897. Pheretima perichaeta (Beddard) . Stephenson 1932 : 227 –229, Fig. 8 ; Gates 1939 : 103 . Metaphire perichaeta (Beddard) . Sims & Easton 1972 : 238 . Material examined. Holotype : ( NHMUK 1924.3.1.231) by monotypy. The type locality is State of Phatthalung, Malay Peninsula, without any further specification. Diagnosis. Medium-sized, length 160 mm with 118 segments. Male pores in copulatory pouches, these with transversely slit-like, conspicuous openings, in XVIII. No genital markings. Spermathecal pores paired at 6/7–8/9, spermathecal ampullae inverted pear-shaped, diverticulum slender and greatly coiled towards distal end. No nephridia on the spermathecal ducts. Holandric, intestinal caeca simple, first dorsal pore in 12/13. Prostate glands large. FIGURE 8. External and internal morphology of Metaphire perichaeta (Beddard, 1900) , holotype (NHMUK 1924.3.1.231). A. External ventral view. B. Internal dorsal view. C. Spermatheca; arrowhead: location of spermathecal pore. TABLE 2 . Comparison of morphological characters in the Metaphire houlleti species group in Thailand. The comma is used to separate body length and width, and setal counts. Presence and absence of an organ is indicated by + or –. Data for M. houlleti are from Gates (1972), and data for M. virgo are from Stephenson (1932). Missing data are shown by a question mark (?). M. khaochamao M. khaoluangensis M. perichaeta M. houlleti M. virgo sp. n. sp. n. (Beddard, ( Perrier, 1872 ) ( Beddard, 1900 ) 1900 )

Body length, width (mm) 166, 6	220, 10	160, 5	92–200, 4–7	152–157, 5
Segment number 118	119	118	92–140	129
First dorsal pore 12/13 Setae VII, XX 34, 60	12/13 36, 51	12/13 36, 46	11/12?, 48–62	11/12 38–51(VIII), 47–56
Male pore setae –	14	12	11–12	12
Male pore spacing 0.30	0.28	0.28	0.30	0.33
Spermathecal pore spacing 0.30	0.44	0.30	0.33	?
Genital marking –	–	–	–	–

Spermathecae	elliptic	elongate	pear shape large sac	small
Diverticulum	slender	slender	zigzag looped	tubular
Prostate gland	17–23	16–19	17–19 16–21	17–18

Genital marking gland	–	–	–	stalk	–
Copulatory sac	–	+	+	+	+
Intestinal caeca	27–23	27–21	27–24	27–22	27–25
Type locality	Thailand	Thailand	Thailand	India	Thailand

Remarks. This species is known only from one specimen. The detailed descriptions of Beddard (1900) and Stephenson (1932) were without illustrations, a line drawing of the spermatheca excepted ( Stephenson 1932: 229, Fig. 8 ). In this study, we present illustrations of both the external ventral and internal dorsal view, including important features like the male genital characters and the prostate glands. Metaphire perichaeta was first recorded from the State of Phatthalung (previously spelled Patalung), Malay Peninsula, but the locality is actually in Thailand , and M. khaoluangensis sp. n. is also found in Phatthalung. Differences of M. perichaeta are as follows: last oesophageal hearts in XII; spermathecae inverted pear-shaped; prostate glands and intestinal caeca smaller than those of the two new species with prostate glands situated on three segments in XVII–XIX (more than three segments in the new species) and intestinal caeca in XXVII– XXIV(XXVII–XXII in the new species). Moreover, M . perichaeta has a narrow mid-dorsal interruption in the ring of setae, while M. khaochamao has a mid-ventral interruption, and in M. khaoluangensis the ring of setae is continuous.