DIPLOCARDIA DEBORAHAE, A NEW EARTHWORM SPECIES (ANNELIDA: OLIGOCHAETA: ACANTHODRILIDAE) FROM EASTERN TENNESSEE, USA.

A new species of earthworm in the genus Diplocardia is described from the Invertebrate Collections of the Canadian Museum of Nature, where nearly 50 years have elapsed since they were first collected in several counties of Tennessee, USA. Most of these Diplocardia deborahae n. sp. specimens bear a single mV female pore, a characteristic otherwise rare among the 50 described species of diplocardians; only 3 of 34 adult specimens possess a single pair of ovipores. Species most similar morphologically to Diplocardia deborahae n. sp. are D. caroliniana, D. meansi and D. ornata. The geographic range of this species is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]