New earthworm species from NIBR's Jeju-do biosphere compared to historical and new Japanese types (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Megascolecidae)

Blakemore, Robert J. The National Institute of Biological Resources 2012 Journal of species research Vol.1 No.2

Amynthas tralfamadore sp. nov. is described from the Mt Halla, Jeju Island biosphere exhibition housed at NIBR Incheon. This species' taxonomy is problematical since it is similar to Amynthas masatakae (Beddard, 1892) from Japan, itself previously reported from Korea and at one time associated with Amynthas campestris (Goto & Hatai, 1898) and A. parvicystis (Goto & Hatai, 1899), all three variously implicated in prior A. robustus (Perrier, 1872) along with Amynthas aspergillum (Perrier, 1872). Based on reinspection of the London lectotype of A. masatakae-here designated and sketched for the first time-the current solution is for maintenance of all five taxa separately. A closely-related Japanese species-Metaphire ryunome sp. nov.-is comparable to Korean Metaphire reisuiensis (Kobayashi, 1938) comb. nov. Another specimen was identified as Amynthas micronarius (Goto & Hatai, 1898), a new record for Korea. It matches the newly-designated neotype (Tokyo NMST An446) and an annotated synonymy is provided; however, erstwhile synonyms, Amynthas shimaensis (Goto & Hatai, 1899) and A. yamizoyamensis (Ohfuchi, 1935) combs. novae, are briefly redescribed and provisionally restored to the Japanese list. mtDNA COI-5P barcode analyses support species identifications.

Account of montane and insular speciation in some Korean megadriles (Annelida: Oligochaeta)

Robert J. Blakemore,Seunghan Lee,Hong-Yul Seo 국립생물자원관 2015 Journal of species research Vol.4 No.1

Surveys of easily accessible or moderately remote South Korean mountains has revealed several common exotic and early species-complexes [Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) with A. diffringens (Baird, 1869), A. gracilis (Kinberg, 1867) and Metaphire californica (Kinberg, 1867)], plus an unexpected number of new native taxa. Megascolecid Metaphire muuido sp. nov. and lumbricid Eisenia muuido sp. nov. are newly described from Muuido Island, Incheon. Montane taxa are parthenogenetic Amynthas tokioensis oculo subsp. nov. that lacks male pores but is yet comparable to both Amynthas tokioensis (Beddard, 1892) and Metaphire soulensis (Kobayashi, 1938) with its possible new synonym A. chiakensis Hong & James, 2013. Apparently unique sympatric taxa are Amynthas bangtaesan bangtaesan and A. b. confinius sup-spp. nov., Amynthas centurio sp. nov., Amynthas punicans sp. nov., Amynthas seoraksan and A. seoraksan iti subspp. nov. These are newly described and their DNA COI gene barcodes, where obtainable, are presented in a phylogram with outgroup Acanthodrilidae Microscolex dubius (Fletcher, 1887) from Lake Biwa Japan being a new exotic record for Asia.

Account of montane and insular speciation in some Korean megadriles (Annelida: Oligochaeta)

Blakemore, Robert J.,Lee, Seunghan,Seo, Hong-Yul The National Institute of Biological Resources 2015 Journal of species research Vol.4 No.1

Surveys of easily accessible or moderately remote South Korean mountains has revealed several common exotic and early species-complexes [Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) with A. diffringens (Baird, 1869), A. gracilis (Kinberg, 1867) and Metaphire californica (Kinberg, 1867)], plus an unexpected number of new native taxa. Megascolecid Metaphire muuido sp. nov. and lumbricid Eisenia muuido sp. nov. are newly described from Muuido Island, Incheon. Montane taxa are parthenogenetic Amynthas tokioensis oculo sub-sp. nov. that lacks male pores but is yet comparable to both Amynthas tokioensis (Beddard, 1892) and Metaphire soulensis (Kobayashi, 1938) with its possible new synonym A. chiakensis Hong & James, 2013. Apparently unique sympatric taxa are Amynthas bangtaesan bangtaesan and A. b. confinius sup-spp. nov., Amynthas centurio sp. nov., Amynthas punicans sp. nov., Amynthas seoraksan and A. seoraksan iti sub-spp. nov. These are newly described and their DNA COI gene barcodes, where obtainable, are presented in a phylogram with outgroup Acanthodrilidae Microscolex dubius (Fletcher, 1887) from Lake Biwa Japan being a new exotic record for Asia.

Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) redescribed on its neotype (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Megascolecidae)

Blakemore, Robert J. The National Institute of Biological Resources 2012 Journal of species research Vol.1 No.1

Japanese/Korean Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) is redescribed from a newly designated Neotype (Tokyo NSMT An435). An annotated synonymy is presented that nominally includes: kyamikia Kobayashi, 1934, monstrifera Kobayashi, 1936, sangyeoli, youngtai, kimhaeiensis, sinsiensis and baemsagolensis - all Korean names by Hong & James, 2001, and Taiwanese monsoonus James et al., 2005. However, Chinese A. pingi (Stephenson 1925) (syn. fornicata Gates, 1935) is maintained separately, at least for the present, until its comprehensive review, possibly extending to DNA barcode differentiation.

Survey of Busan Oligochaeta earthworms supported by DNA barcodes

Blakemore, Robert J.,Lee, Seunghan The National Institute of Biological Resources 2013 Journal of species research Vol.2 No.2

An earthworm survey of Busan metropolitan area unearthed a dozen taxa in four families (including Enchytraeidae). Members of mostly common, cosmopolitan earthworm species-complexes were: Drawida cf. koreana Kobayashi, 1938, Amynthas cf. corticis (Kinberg, 1867), Aporrectodea trapezoides (Dug$\grave{e}$s, 1828) and Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826). Also found were Amynthas hupeiensis (Michaelsen, 1895), A. masatakae (Beddard, 1892) and Metaphire ryunome Blakemore, 2012 - the latter a new Korean record. New taxa are: moniligastrid Drawida songae yeongdo subsp. n.; megascolecid Amynthas carnosus roki subsp. n. which is compared to nominal taxon A. carnosus (Goto and Hatai, 1899) from Japan, to A. carnosus monstriferus (Kobayashi, 1936) stat. n. from Korea and to A. lichuanensis Wang and Qiu, 2005 stat. n. from China; plus lumbricid Eisenia japonica vaga subsp. n. deemed an objectively-based molecular taxon on its unique DNA COI gene barcode. Restoration of Eisenia xanthurus (Templeton, 1836) for E. andrei is mooted (in Appendix).

Two New Eisenia Species from South Korea Similar to E. koreana and Comparable to Eisenoides from USA (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

Blakemore, Robert J.,Park, Tae Seo The Korean Society of Systematic Zoology 2012 Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity Vol.28 No.4

New Korean lumbricids are described: Eisenia gaga Blakemore sp. nov. from remote Gageodo Island and E. sindo Blakemore, sp. nov. from an island at Incheon. Both are comparable to Eisenia koreana (Zicsi, 1972) from near Pyongyang, North Korea. A remarkable yet previously unrecognized similarity to American earthworm Eisenoides carolinensis (Michaelsen, 1910) is discussed, but synonymy is rejected on tenuous morphological grounds (form of nephridial vesicle bladders) with taxonomy supported by objective molecular data (mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 barcodes).

Reports of Drawida (Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from far East Asia

Blakemore, Robert J.,Lee, Seunghan,Seo, Hong-Yul The National Institute of Biological Resources 2014 Journal of species research Vol.3 No.2

Moniligastrids are an important yet often ignored earthworm group commonly found in cultivated soils, especially paddy, in the tropical East. Seven new taxa are: Drawida koreana austri, D. koreana nanjiro, D. koreana shindo, D. odaesan, D. jeombongsan, D. companio and D. csuzdii Blakemore spp. or sub-spp. nov. from Korea. Drawida csuzdii is the first new species from North Korea since Lumbricidae Eisenia koreana (Zicsi, 1972). Historical East Asian moniligastrids are reviewed chronologically and Drawida barwelli (Beddard, 1886), D. japonica (Michaelsen, 1892) and D. siemsseni Michaelsen, 1910 are compared on their museum types. These three taxa were thought similar and related to D. nepalensis Michaelsen, 1907 and its possible synonym D. burchardi Michaelsen, 1903 (priority!) and both of these to prior D. uniqua (Bourne, 1887). Indian Drawida calebi Gates, 1945 is compared to new material of D. japonica from Japan, and D. willsi Michaelsen, 1907 to the new sub-species of D. koreana Kobayashi, 1938 from Korea. Where available, mtDNA COI gene barcodes are provided to help objective determinations and a phylogram is provided with outgroup Ocnerodrilidae Eukerria saltensis (Beddard, 1895) itself found in rice paddy/irrigation. The challenge now is comparison of all early taxa in their various homelands in order to assess the genetic variability and taxonomic boundaries acceptable, especially for unpigmented D. barwelli and also for pink/grey D. japonica and blue/grey D. koreana. A checklist of moniligastrids is appended showing 22 species from China (including Hainan and Taiwan), 21 from Korea, nine from Japan and the Drawida ghilarovi Gates, 1969 species-complex from far eastern Russian (Siberia). Recent Drawida dandongensis Zhang & Sun, 2014 from Sino-Korean border is misdescribed and cannot be meaningfully compared to any other Drawidas.

On Schmarda's lost earthworm and some newly found New Zealand species (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Lumbricidae, Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae, & Megascolecidae s. stricto)

Blakemore, Robert J. The National Institute of Biological Resources 2012 Journal of species research Vol.1 No.2

The saga of Megascolides orthostichon (Schmarda, 1861)-the first native worm described from Australasia-continues as its type-locality is unequivocally returned from Hobart, Tasmania to Mt Wellington, Auckland where a brief survey failed to unearth it. Since it has not been seen for 150 yrs, it may qualify under NZTCS or IUCN classification as 'Nationally Critical' if not 'Extinct'. New reports are for exotic Megascolecidae Anisochaeta kiwi sp. nov. and A. kiwi mihi sub-sp. nov. plus addition to the NZ faunal list of Australian Anisochaeta macleayi (Fletcher, 1889) that, due to its wide distribution in Australia and now New Zealand, may be a candidate model-species suitably resilient for eco-toxicological culture and monitoring. For holarctic Lumbricidae, new records are of Dendrobaena attemsi (Michaelsen, 1903) and the Murchieona muldali (Omodeo, 1956) morph or subspecies of M. minuscula (Rosa, 1906), neither lumbricid previously uncovered in Asia/Australasia. Also found for the first time outside its East Asian homeland is Eisenia japonica (Michaelsen, 1892) (which is compared to Japanese E. japonica hiramoto sub-sp. nov. and to E. anzac Blakemore, 2011). Records of these exotics plus recent new native species described by the author-including two, Rhododrilus mangamingi and Deinodrilus orcus spp. novae, herein-raise the numbers of megadriles known from New Zealand to 228 (sub-)species in five families. Preliminary mtDNA COI sequence barcodes are presented. Genus Tokea Benham, 1904 is revived on its lack of dorsal pores, losing or gaining some species with Megascolides M'Coy, 1878. An updated checklist of all 228 New Zealand taxa is appended.

Megascolex (Perichaeta) diffringens Baird, 1869 and Pheretima pingi Stephenson, 1925 types compared to the Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) and A. carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) species-groups (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea: Megascolecidae)

Blakemore, Robert J. The National Institute of Biological Resources 2013 Journal of species research Vol.2 No.2

Amynthas diffringens (Baird, 1869) is deemed valid yet comparable to A. corticis (Kinberg, 1867) and to A. nipponicus (Beddard, 1893) or A. peregrinus (Fletcher, 1896). Its syntypes tend to more genital markings than usual as shown for variable specimens from Japan, Korea, and Australasia that comply genetically with either of two A. corticis spp. groups. A. diffringens type-locality was UK hothouses yet closest specimens appear in part of A. heteropodus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) (=A. corticis) from Japan. Japanese Amynthas divergens (Michaelsen, 1892) is restored based on its serrate intestinal caeca. Meanwhile, the lectotype of Amynthas pingi (Stephenson, 1925) is deemed a synonym of A. carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899) compliant with Kobayashi's (1936) types III & II. Erstwhile A. pingi synonym A. fornicatus (Gates, 1925) is again included, but A. hongkongensis (Michaelsen, 1910) and A. chungkingensis (Chen, 1936) are provisionally retained whilst A. carnosa lichuanensis Wang & Qiu, 2005 is given separate species status. A new Korean taxon is proposed as A. carnosus naribunji sub-sp. nov. and two replacement names are provided: A. zhuya nom. nov. for homonym A. montanus Qiu & Sun, 2012 from Hainan and A. yizhou for A. carnosus sensu Shen et al., 2005 from Taiwan. No attempt is made to fully resolve numerous Japanese synonyms of A. carnosus [eg Ishizuka's (2001) invista, subterranea, subalpina, umbrosa, mutabilis, nubicola, plus A. nonmonticolus Blakemore, 2010] nor Korean synonyms [eg kyamikia Kobayashi, 1934, monstrifera Kobayashi, 1936 and murayamai Kobayashi, 1938, sangyeoli, youngtai (with segments miscounted), kimhaeiensis, sinsiensis and baemsagolensis - all names by Hong & James (2001) plus ?A. sangumburi Hong & Kim, 2002 (its segments miscounted too)] also A. fuscus Qiu & Sun, 2012 from Hainan and Taiwanese monsoonus James et al., 2005 plus A. penpuensis Shen et al., 2003 and A. taiwumontis Shen et al., 2013 syns. nov.. All synonyms remain in the currently defined A. carnosus pending full revisons although several may eventually comply with parts of prior A. corticis s. lato.

Two New Eisenia Species from South Korea Similar to E. koreana and Comparable to Eisenoides from USA (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

Robert J. Blakemore,Tae Seo Park 한국동물분류학회 2012 Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity Vol.28 No.4

New Korean lumbricids are described: Eisenia gaga Blakemore sp. nov. from remote Gageodo Island and E. sindo Blakemore, sp. nov. from an island at Incheon. Both are comparable to Eisenia koreana (Zicsi, 1972) from near Pyongyang, North Korea. A remarkable yet previously unrecognized similarity to American earthworm Eisenoides carolinensis (Michaelsen, 1910) is discussed, but synonymy is rejected on tenuous morphological grounds (form of nephridial vesicle bladders) with taxonomy supported by objective molecular data (mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 barcodes).