• Perionychella Michaelsen, W. 1907. Oligochaeta. pp. 117-232 in Michaelsen, W. & Hartmeyer, R. (eds). Die Fauna Südwest-Australiens. Jena : Gustav Fischer Verlag. [163].

  Type species:

   Perichaeta dendyi Spencer, 1892 (=Perionychella dendyi (Spencer, 1892)) by original designation.
• Pseudoperichaeta Jamieson, B.G.M. 1970. A revision of the Australian earthworm genus Woodwardiella with descriptions of two new genera (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta). Journal of Zoology, London 162(1): 99-144 [133-134].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

IBRA

NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Channel Country (CHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Flinders (FLI), Gulf Plains (GUP), King (KIN), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria: SE coastal

Diagnosis

Setae at least in the mid- and hind-body many more than 8 per segment. Spermathecal pores 2-4 (-5?) pairs between segments IV and IX. One gizzard, in segment 5 or 6. Completely meganephric (holonephric). Prostates with branched canal system. (Michaelson 1907).

Setae 8 or more per segment. Combined pores of vasa deferentia and tubular or tubuloracemose prostates on XVIII. Gizzard in V, rarely VI or VII (well developed to vestigial); typhlosole absent. Extramural calciferous glands usually absent, and never paired, but the oesophagus often vascularised and internally rugose, especially in XIV and XV. Nephridia stomate, exonephric holonephridia with or without bladders; the anterior nephridia sometimes tufted. Spermathecae 1 to 5 pairs. (Jamieson 1974)

Setae in the forebody 4 to 6 pairs; in the hindbody 4 pairs or perichaetin. Prostates racemose. Holonephric, avesiculate, but with (always meronephric?) tufts in one or more anterior segments. Spermathecae 2 to 4 pairs, with single, uniloculate diverticula. (Jamieson 2000)

Diagnosis References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1974. The indigenous earthworms (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) of Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 26: 201-328 [216]

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] [952]

Michaelsen, W. 1907. Oligochaeta. pp. 117-232 in Michaelsen, W. & Hartmeyer, R. (eds). Die Fauna Südwest-Australiens. Jena : Gustav Fischer Verlag.

History of changes

• Perichaeta dendyi Spencer, W.B. 1892. Preliminary notice of Victorian earthworms. Part II. The genus Perichaeta. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 5: 1-26 [12-13].

  Type data:

   
  Status unknown, AM W1294 (original types lost from the Museum Victoria (Jensz & Smith 1969) but two specimens found at Australian Museum 'presented J.J. Fletcher Nov 1924, identified by B. Spencer' were designated as lectotype and paralectotype by Jamieson 1974 (or 2000?); not clear if these specimens were from original type locality), Healesville, Victoria [37°39'S 145°32'E]; whereabouts unknown (types are lost from Museum Victoria (Jensz & Smith 1969)), Healesville, Victoria [37°39'S 145°32'E].

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Healesville.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Vic: South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

General References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1971. A review of the megascolecoid earthworm genera (Oligochaeta) of Australia. Part III — The subfamily Megascolecinae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 16: 69-102 [83] (as Diporochaeta dendyi)

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1976. The genus Diporochaeta (Oligochaeta Megascolecidae) in Queensland. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 149: 1-57 [4] (as Diporochaeta dendyi)

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] [956] (as Perionychella dendyi)

Jensz, R.L. & Smith, B.J. 1969. Catalogue of Baldwin Spencer earthworm types in the National Museum of Victoria, Australia. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 29: 85-110 [104] (as Perichaeta dendyi)

Michaelsen, W. 1907. Oligochaeten von Australien. Abhandlungen und Verhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg 19(1): 1-25 [11-13] (as Diporochaeta dendyi)

Sweet, G. 1900. On the structure of the spermiducal glands and associated parts in Australian earthworms. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 28: 109-139 [118] (as Megascolex dendyi)

History of changes

• Perionychella eruca Blakemore, R.J. 2000. Tasmanian earthworms. Published electronically. 575 pp. [294].

  Type data:

   Holotype QVM 14:2837 mature specimen (dissected), Birchs Inlet, SW Tasmania [CN 753 878].
  Paratype(s) QVM 14:3539 one clitellate, one aclitellate and one immature specimens (all dissected), Birchs Inlet, SW Tasmania [CN 753 878].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Birchs Inlet, SW Tasmania.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian West (TWE)

History of changes

• Perichaeta irregularis Spencer, W.B. 1895. Preliminary notes on Tasmanian earthworms. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 7: 33-54 [53-54].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NMV G288 clitellate specimen (dissected), King River Valley, western Tasmania [42°10'S 145°25'E].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

King River Valley, W Tasmania and Pelion Valley, central Tasmania.

IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), 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)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Tasmania

Ecological Descriptors

Soil dweller.

General References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1971. A review of the megascolecoid earthworm genera (Oligochaeta) of Australia. Part III — The subfamily Megascolecinae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 16: 69-102 [83] (as Diporochaeta irregularis)

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1976. The genus Diporochaeta (Oligochaeta Megascolecidae) in Queensland. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 149: 1-57 [4] (as Diporochaeta irregularis)

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] [477] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement retained species in Diporochaeta, following Jamieson (1976); monograph published contemporaneously with Blakemore (2000))

Jensz, R.L. & Smith, B.J. 1969. Catalogue of Baldwin Spencer earthworm types in the National Museum of Victoria, Australia. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 29: 85-110 [106] (as Perichaeta irregularis)

History of changes

• Perionyx lacustris Stephenson, J. 1924. On a new species of the genus Perionyx (Oligochaeta) from Tasmania. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 83: 546-547 [546].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 1924.10.21.1-5 5 specimens (includes one specimen dissected earlier (by Stephenson?) and one dissected by Jamieson; Jamieson (1974) augmented and corrected original description by Stephenson), Great Lake, Central Tasmania [41°55'S 146°45'E].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Great Lake.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), 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)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Tasmania

Ecological Descriptors

Soil dweller.

General References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1976. The genus Diporochaeta (Oligochaeta Megascolecidae) in Queensland. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 149: 1-57 [4] (as Diporochaeta lacustris)

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] [481] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement retained species in Diporochaeta; monograph published contemporaneously with Blakemore (2000))

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] [481] (as Diporochaeta (Diporochaeta) lacustris)

History of changes

• Perionychella myrtea Blakemore, R.J. 2000. Tasmanian earthworms. Published electronically. 575 pp. [303].

  Type data:

   Holotype QVM 14:3091 aclitellate mature specimen (dissected), Lake Rowallan, Central Tasmania, Lake Bill track [ca 41°44'S 146°14'E].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Lake Rowallan, Central Tasmania.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS)

History of changes

• Megascolex pritchardi Spencer, W.B. 1900. Further descriptions of Australian earthworms, Part I. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 13(1): 29-67 [47].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NMV F40108 (re-examined by Jamieson (2000)), Mornington, Victoria [38°14'S 145°02'E].
  Paralectotype(s) NMV F401417, Mornington, Victoria [38°14'S 145°02'E].

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Mornington.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Vic: South East Coastal Plain (SCP)

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] [960] (as Perionychella pritchardi)

History of changes

• Perichaeta richea Spencer, W.B. 1895. Preliminary notes on Tasmanian earthworms. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 7: 33-54 [49-52].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (types lost (Jensz & Smith 1969)), Mount Olympus, Tasmania [42°05'S 146°10'E].
• Perionychella (Perionychella) hickmani Jamieson, B.G.M. 1974. The indigenous earthworms (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) of Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 26: 201-328 [226].

  Type data:

   Holotype TMH K:260 clitellate specimen dissected, Fern Glade, Emu River, Burnie, NW Tasmania [41°05'S 145°55'E].
  Paratype(s) BMNH 1972.8.12 aclitellate specimen dissected, Hellyer Gorge, NW Tasmania [41°20'S 145°35'E]; TMH K:261, Parrawe [41°20'S 145°35'E]; BMNH 1972.8.13-14 2 clitellate specimens, Lake St Clair, central Tasmania [42°05'S 146°10'E]; AM W5185 aclitellate specimen, Lake St Clair, central Tasmania [42°05'S 146°10'E].
• Perionychella (Vesiculodrilus) obliquae Jamieson, B.G.M. 1974. The indigenous earthworms (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) of Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 26: 201-328 [250].

  Type data:

   Holotype TMH K310 mature specimen (dissected) (synonymised by Blakemore (2000d)), South of Interview River, 2 miles inland, W Tasmania [41°35'S 144°55'E].
  Paratype(s) BMNH 1972.8.31 mature specimen, posterior amputee (dissected), South of Interview River, 2 miles inland, W Tasmania [41°35'S 144°55'E]; AM W5202 mature specimen (dissected) (according to Blakemore (2000d) this specimen lies 'in the domain of P. dilwynnia'), Port Davey, Kellys Beach, SW Tasmania [43°20'S 145°55'].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Blakemore, R.J. 2000. Tasmanian earthworms. Published electronically. 575 pp. [305] (places both Perionychella (Perionychella) hickmani and Perionychella (Vesiculodrilus) obliquae as synonyms)

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Mount Olympus.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH)

Ecological Descriptors

Soil dweller.

General References

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1974. The indigenous earthworms (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) of Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 26: 201-328 [223] (as Perichaeta richea)

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] [475] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement retained species in Diporochaeta, following Jamieson (1976); monograph published contemporaneously with Blakemore (2000))

Jensz, R.L. & Smith, B.J. 1969. Catalogue of Baldwin Spencer earthworm types in the National Museum of Victoria, Australia. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 29: 85-110 [107] (as Perichaeta richea)

Michaelsen, W. 1900. Das Tierreich, Vermes, Lief. 10, Oligochaeta. Berlin : Friedländer und Sohn. [204] (as Perichaeta richea)

History of changes

• Cryptodrilus smithi Fletcher, J.J. 1890. Notes on Australian earthworms—Part VI. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 4(2): 987-1019 [992-994].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) AM W1337 (part), Eltham, Victoria [37°43'S 145°09'E].
• Megascolides punctatus Spencer, W.B. 1900. Further descriptions of Australian earthworms, Part I. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 13(1): 29-67 [37-38].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Spencer, W.B. 1900. Further descriptions of Australian earthworms, Part I. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria ns 13(1): 29-67 [37-38] (Megascolides punctatus synonymised under Perionychella smithi)

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Eltham.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Vic: South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

History of changes

• Perionychella strzeleckii Blakemore, R.J. 2000. Tasmanian earthworms. Published electronically. 575 pp. [311].

  Type data:

   Holotype QVM 14:3754 clitellate mature specimen (dissected), Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485].
  Paratype(s) ANIC RB.98.1.17 mature specimen (dissected), Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485]; TMH K1570 mature specimen (dissected), Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485]; QVM 14:3755 mature specimen (dissected), Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485]; QVM 14:3756 mature specimen (dissected), Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485]; QVM 14:3757 mature specimen, Flinders Island, Mt Strzelecki National Park, NE Tasmania [ER 925 485].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Mt Strzelecki National Park, Flinders Island.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Flinders (FLI)

History of changes

• Perionychella variegata Blakemore, R.J. 2000. The taxonomic status of the earthworm fauna of Lake Pedder, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Records of the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston 109: 1-36 [17].

  Type data:

   Holotype QVM 14:3340 mature specimen (dissected), Sprent Basin, Lake Pedder [AMG 417600 5263100].
  Paratype(s) QVM 14:3341 immature specimen "agreeing superficially", Sprent Basin, Lake Pedder [AMG 417600 5263100].

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Lake Pedder, SW Tasmania and Pelion Valley, central Tasmania.

IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), 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)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Tasmania

General References

Blakemore, R.J. 2000. Tasmanian earthworms. Published electronically. 575 pp. [314]

History of changes