CHINESE EARTHWORMS — GATES 433 



PHERETIMA FLEXILIS Gates 



1935. Pheretima flex^ilis Gates, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 93, no. 3, p. 7 



(type locality: Between Gin Keo Ho and Dawei, Szechwan; type in 

 the U. S. National Museum). 



1936. Pheretima flexilis Chen, Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, zool. ser., voL 



11, p. 295 (after examination of type). 

 Material exatnined. — From Dr. Graham: 1 clitellate specimen 

 labeled "Between Gin Keo Ho and Dawei, 1,300-5,000 feet, August 

 1-2." 

 External characteristics. — Length, 40 mm. Diameter, 2 mm. 

 The setae begin on ii, on which segment there is a complete 

 setal circle. Setal numbers: vii/16, viii/16, xvii/10, xVin/ca. 10, 

 xix/11. 



The first dorsal pore is probably on 13/14. 



The clitellum is annular, extending from 13/14 to 16/17; inter- 

 segmental furrows, dorsal pores, and setae lacking. 



The male pores are minute, at the centers (probably) of tiny trans- 

 versely oval areas in the setal circle of xviii. Each male pore area 

 is surrounded by several concentric furrows. 



The spermathecal pores are minute, on tiny, transversely oval, 

 glistening areas; three pairs, on 6/7-8/9. 



The genital markings are median, unpaired, tiny, circular tubercles, 

 each with a definite rim and a grayish-translucent center; presetal 

 on viii, slightly nearer to the setae than to 7/8; postsetal on xvii, 

 close to the setae; postsetal on xviii, close to the setae. 



Internal anatomy. — Septa 5/6-6/7 are strengthened; no septa 

 thickly muscular ; 8/9-9/10 lacking. 



The intestine begins in xv. The intestinal caeca are simple; the 

 margins smooth except for septal constrictions. 



The single heart of ix is on the right side. The last pair of hearts 

 is in xiii. 



The testis sac of x is horseshoe-shaped, on the anterior face of 

 10/11; the ventral ends of the sac in contact but apparently not 

 united. The testis sacs of xi are paired, erect, more or less ovoidal, 

 vertical bodies. The lower end of a sac is on the ventral parietes, the 

 upper end reaching or almost reaching the dorsal blood vessel. Each 

 sac encloses a heart, a male funnel, and a seminal vesicle, as well as 

 testicular coagulum. The testes were not identified. The seminal 

 vesicles of xii are large, in contact transversely above the dorsal 

 blood vessel ; extending through xiii on the left side but on the right 

 side pushing 12/13 and 13/14 back into contact with 14/15. The 

 prostates extend through segments xvi-xx. The prostatic duct is 

 just over 1 mm in length, glistening, erect in the coelom, practically 



