Miscellaneous earthworm types in the Natural History Museum, London (Annelida: Oligochaet a: Megadrilacea: Eudrilidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Moniligastridae, Octochaetidae)

• Main Author: Robert J. Blakemore
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: German; English
• Published: Eötvös Loránd University 2014
• Subjects: curation; taxonomy; typification; Historical collection; review; Ecology; QH540-549.5; Zoology; QL1-991; Queensland; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/a7896e8b240549119a6af91cfb94417d

Recently restored Lumbricus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 neotype (NHM Register No. 1973.1.1) is described in greater detail. A lectotype is designated for Amynthas morrisi (Beddard, 1892) and an informal A. morrisi clonal speciescomplex is proposed. Once combined under A. gracilis (Kinberg, 1867), the nominal taxon is revised since its restoration and representation of A. morrisi species-group sensu Sims & Easton (1972), now unwieldy with forty or so members. A restricted A. morrisi sensu stricto is proposed with re-evaluation of its erstwhile synonyms based on types. Limited DNA COI barcode comparisons are appended. A lectotype for A. barbadensis (Beddard, 1892) now becomes a junior synonym of Amynthas gracilis removing it from nomenclatural consideration. Lectotypes of contenders, A. mauritianus (Beddard, 1892) itself closer to A. gracilis, and A. insulae (Beddard, 1896) appear separate from A. morrisi. Next, A. pallidus (Michaelsen, 1892) is restored with retention of some of its synonyms, but A. loveridgei (Gates, 1968) syntype is maintained. An exotic species from Queensland, Australia is a new member of A. morrisi species-group described as Amynthas talus sp. nov. Taxonomic ‘housekeeping’ of Queensland taxa requires re-allocation of Terrisswalkerius leichhardti Jamieson, McDonald et James, 2013 to prior Perionychella Michaelsen, 1907. New Zealand’s possibly extinct Tokea? orthostichon (Schmarda, 1861) and imperfectly known Anisochaeta antarctica (Baird, 1871) are revised in new combinations with slight revision of the genus Tokea Benham, 1904. Samples labelled as Hamburg syntypes of Japanese Metaphire hilgendorfi (Michaelsen, 1892) are briefly noted as are various other megadriles, such as divers pheretimoids and lumbricids, some also on loan, in the Museum’s collection.