Faunistic studies on terrestrial earthworms (Annelida:Clitellata) collected from central Philippines

• Main Author: Flores, Rodante Granfil
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Earthworms; Annelida; Clitellata; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1199; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2200&context=etd_doctoral
• Institution: De La Salle University

Terrestrial earthworms were collected from 66 sampling points in 29 localities within the ten islands of the Central Philippine archipelago. The choice of sampling areas took into consideration the protected areas within the four biogeographical/faunal regions namely: Greater Negros-Panay, Greater Mindanao, Camotes, and Siquijor. The opportunistic random sampling approach was used. Analysis of collected samples consisted of external morphological examination and dorsal dissection to evaluate morphological structures of taxonomic importance. Nine genera belonging to three families were identified namely: family Glossoscolecidae (genus Pontoscolex) family Eudrilidae (genus Eudrilus) and family Megascolecidae (genera Amynthas, Archipheretima, Metaphire, Pheretima, Pithemera, Pleionogaster, and Polypheretima). Representative species belonging to families Glossoscolecidae and Eudrilidae are highly invasive exotics, while those of the Megascolecidae comprise native earthworm fauna. Pheretima and Pleionogaster were found widely distributed and highly diverse relative to Archipheretima and Metaphire. Sixty-one species of Pheretima and 34 species of Pleionogaster were identified. Based on certain synapomorphies that suggest probable phylogenetic relationship between species within each genus, any inference on the geological history of the study area still entails additional compelling information.