Genus Megascolides McCoy, 1878

Museums

Regional Maps

• Megascolides McCoy, F. 1878. Megascolides australis (McCoy). The Giant Earth-worm. Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria 1: 21-25 [21].

  Type species:

   Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Tasmania, Victoria

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), King (KIN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE) ; Tas, Vic: Flinders (FLI) ; Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Diagnosis

Setae 8 per segment. Combined male and prostatic porophores a pair on XVIII. A single gizzard, in V. Meronephric, with numerous exonephric stomate nephridia median to which caudally are exonephric astomate micromeronephridia; caudal micro- and mega-meronephridia connected to a longitudinal ureter on each side of the ventral nerve cord; the ureter also opening to the exterior in each segment. Prostates truly tubular, much coiled. Spermathecal diverticula small, multiloculate, consisting of several longitudinal chambers which are multiloculate. Spermatozoa stored in the spermathecal ampulla in addition to the diverticula.

General References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 2000. Native Earthworms of Australia (Megascolecidae, Megascolecinae). Enfield, New Hampshire, USA : Science Publishers, Inc. [CD ROM] 2506 pp. [Date published 12 December 2000] (restricted Megascolides to type species only)

History of changes