TABLE. 2 in Three Novel Species of Earthworms of Genus Metaphire Sims and Easton, 1972 from Manipur, India

TABLE. 2. List of comparative traits of novel species with related species. S. No.Morphological charactersMetaphire manipurensis sp. nov.M. houlleti (Perrier 1872)M. harrietensis (Stephenson 1925)M. scitula (Gates1936)M. umbraticola (Gates 1932)M. quadrigemina (Gates 1932)M. perichaeta (Beddard 1900)M. virgo (Beddard 1900)M. acampanulata Nguyen, Ly, Lam, Nguyen & Nguyen, 20221Body length (mm)80–21075–902001001156416015277–1982Diameter (mm)4.5–4.83.5–3.711.5564554.03–6.913Segment number61–12382–93123?12511511812956–1444First dorsal pore11/129/1012/1312/1312/1312/1312/1311/1211/12 or 12/135Male pore setae12–149–122812–148612128–256Male porein copulatory pouch with transverse slit like opening male genital region expanded laterallyin copulatory pouch with C-shaped openingthe male pores are on conical papillae on xviiiat the centre of a smooth circular disc, deeply retracted into a parietal invagination, with a short transverse slit-like apertureapertures are wide slits in the setal circle of xviii with wrinkled margins.apertures are transverse slits in the setal circle of xviii with antero posterior lips in contact with each otherconspicuous orifices separated from each other by a fairly wide intervalminute and on a porophore within a copulatory chamber opening to the exterior through a transversely slit-like equatorial apertureinside copulatory pouches in xviii, and the openings slit or round shaped.7Spermathecaeampulla obovate or ovate, duct stout, conical, muscular with flat top, long stalked diverticulum terminating in a zig-zag looped swollen receptacle.ampulla oval, with relatively larger swollen spermathecal duct; diverticulum enlarged with looped end.ampulla saclike, shortly ovoid in shape, duct moderately stout not shining, diverticulum long and thin, and irregularly twisted.spermathecae small, duct almost confined to the parietes, diverti culum long looped or zigzag.ampulla is longer than the duct, diverticulum composed of a thick-walled stalk.duct is short, diverticulum bent into a series of zigzag loops.ampulla pear shape, diverticulum zigzagsmall, diverticulum tubularampulla mushroom-shaped with longitudinal grooves on the surface, L-shaped diverticulum.8Genital marking gland2 stalked spherical or mushroom shaped in vii, viii, and xi, buried in parietes.single stalked, connecting to spermathecal ducts. Sometimes, 2–3 sessile in copulatory pouchvery numerous corresponding to the pitted areas stalked.absentabsentabsentabsentone finely acinous, 2–4 with short stalks passing to markings within the chamber2–4 stalked, attached to each ampulla duct. 3–4 in wall of each copulatory pouch in segment xviii.9Lateral intestinal caecaIn xxvii, and extends upto xxiixxvii–xxvxxvii–?xxvii–?xxvii–xxivxxvii into xxvxxvii–xxivxxvii–xxvxxvii–xxiv10Intestinal originxivxvxvxvixvxvixvixvxv ......continued on the next page