Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

A preliminary investigation of insect colonisation and succession on remains in New Zealand Journal Paper

Author
Eberhardt, T.L.; Elliot, D.A.
Year
2008
Journal / Source
Forensic Science International
Volume
176
Pages
217-223
Keywords
earthworms, Moniligastridae, Acanthodrilidae, Megascolecidae, Octochaetidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Pacific islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue Island, Kermadec Islands, Papua New Guinea, taxonomy, new taxa, Kallisto
Summary
Earthworms collected from the southwestern Pacific islands of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Kermadecs on the 1980 expedition of the Soviet Research Ship Kallisto, and by other expeditions and surveys, are discussed. Nineteen species are listed: 2 are new, 12 are new records for the area, and 6 are new records for individual islands. The 2 new species are Polypheretima neglecta n. sp. and Metapheretima sergei n. sp. The littoral species of the genus Pontodrilus are reviewed and are considered to be synonymous. The type species of the genus Drawida is redescribed. Polypheretima tamarae n. sp. is described from Papua New Guinea. The origin of the earthworm fauna of the south-western Pacific is discussed and a key to the earthworms recorded from the south-western Pacific is provided. Details of the nephridial systems of 2 species of Polypheretima from Papua New Guinea are given in an appendix.
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