Art. XL.—On the New Zealand Earth-worms in the Otago Museum.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 9, 1876, Page 350

Art. XL.—On the New Zealand Earth-worms in the Otago Museum. By Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S. [Read before the Otago Institute, June 6th, 1876] Plate VII. I am not aware that any earth-worms have been as yet described from New Zealand, except Meyasolex anlarclica, Baird (“Pro. Lin. Soc.,” Vol. XI.,

p. 96), a large species seven inches long, and I offer the following as a contribution towards a better knowledge of them. Lumbricus Uliginosus, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. A. Length, eight or nine inches; colour reddish; body thick, cylindrical, and slightly tapering in front; quadrilateral behind. Setæ rather short and thick, in four rows, each row consisting of an approximated pair of bristles. Segments from 180 to 200; clittellum large, but not very distinct, composed of six segments, from fifteen to twenty. Male genital openings in two pairs, situated on the ninth and tenth segments respectively. Vulvæ large, on the three last segments of the clittellum. Cephalic lobe large and rounded, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts, and with a transverse sulcus on the posterior superior portion, between the divided halves of the buccal segment. Anterior margin of buccal segment deeply emarginate inferiorly. Habitat: Dunedin, in peaty ground. Lumbricus Campestris, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. B Length, two to three inches. Colour reddish, or olivaceous-green, paler below. Clittelum red, or reddish-brown. Body cylindrical and tapering in front, subquadrate, and tapering behind. Setæ in four double rows, each row consisting of a rather distant pair of bristles. Segments, 100 to 140. Clitellum generally conspicuous, of five or six segments; its position irregular, commencing on any segment between ten and twenty. Male genital openings on the ninth segment. Vulvæ on the two last segments of the clitellum. Cephalic lobe large, sub-conical, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts. Anterior margin of buccal segment entire, or slightly eroded inferiorly. Habitat: Dunedin and Wellington. Common. A very variable species. The olivaceous specimens occur in the bush. Lumbricus Levis, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. C. Length, three to four inches. Pale flesh colour. Body cylindrical, tapering in front. Setæ feeble, in four rows behind the clitellum, absent before the clitellum. Segments, 130 to 150; the first thirteen simple or bi-annulate, the remainder tri-annulate. Clitellum conspicuous, brownishred, composed of six or seven segments, commencing between the fifteenth to twenty-fifth. Male genital openings on the tenth to fifteenth segment. Vulvæ on the two last segments of the clitellum. Cephalic lobe, small, conical, simple. Anterior border of buccal segment slightly emarginate superiorly, entire inferiorly.

Habitat: Dunedin and Hampden, in gardens and fields. This species differs from L. communis in having no setæ before the clitellum, and in not having any tubercles on the sides of the clitellum. A variable species, sometimes of a greenish hue. In the young the setæ are often found in front of the clitellum. Lumbricus Annulatus, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. D. Length, about three inches. Colour, pale brownish-red; each segment with a dark reddish-brown transverve band in the centre; inferior aspect much lighter. Body cylindrical in front, sub-pentagonal behind, tapering to both ends. Setæ in four rows. Segments, 70 to 100, bi or tri-annulate. Clitellum, well marked, smooth, and shining, consisting of five or six segments, commencing at the twenty-sixth; not tuberculated inferiorly. Male genital openings in the sixteenth segment. Cephalic lobe, small and flattened, divided into anterior and posterior divisions inferiorly. Anterior border of buccal segment emarginate superiorly, entire inferiorly. Habitat: Dunedin, in gardens. In colour this species much resembles L. fcetidus of Europe, but is distinguished by the shape of the cephalic lobe, the position of the male genital openings, and the well-marked clitellum. Megasolex Sylvestris, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. E. Length one and a half to two inches. Colour, dark red-brown. Body, cylindrical, tapering before and behind. Setæ, numerous, arranged in about thirty double rows all round the body. Segments, 70 to 80; bi-annulate. Clitellum, inconspicuous, composed of three segments, from fifteen to seventeen. Male genital openings on the second segment behind the clitellum, and with a pair of elongated curved setæ in front of each. Cephalic lobe, small, flattened, with a deep transverse groove superiorly, and divided into anterior and posterior portions inferiorly. Anterior border of buccal segment, deeply excavated superiorly, entire inferiorly. Habitat: Dunedin, in rotten wood in the bush. Megasolex Lineatus, sp. nov. Plate, Fig. F. Length, two inches. Colour, reddish-brown, finely longitudinally striated with lighter. Body, cylindrical, tapering before and behind. Setæ, very minute, in simple rows all round the body. Segments 70 to 80. Clitellum inconspicuous, composed of four segments, from the fourteenth to seventeenth.

New Zealand Earth Worms

Male genital openings on the second segment behind the clitellum, without any specialised setæ in front of them. Cephalic lobe, small, rounded, completely dividing the buccal segment superiorly into two parts. Anterior border of buccal segment, slightly emarginate inferiorly. Habitat: Queenstown, under dead leaves. Explanation of Plate. First four segments of New Zealand Earth-worms:—a, viewed from above; b, viewed from below; c, viewed from the right side; d, transverse section behind clitellum.