Amynthas aucklandis, Blakemore, 2013

Blakemore, Robert J., 2013, Jeju-do earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megadrilacea) - Quelpart Island revisited, Journal of Species Research 2 (1), pp. 15-54 : 24

Amynthas aucklandis sp. nov.

[ Fig. 6 ]

Material examined. Holotype (H) IV0000251100 mature, from Mt Halla under bridge on Rt 516 12 th June, 2012; sketched and dissected providing DNA samples ( WO41 resampled as w21).

Etymology. From Mt Auckland (Latin genitive) the European’s early name for Mt Halla.

Description. Length 120; segments 98. Colour dark brown on dorsum and anterior. Clitellum buff 14-16. Epilobous. First dorsal pore in 12/13. Setae number about 64 per segment. Spermathecae in wide slits in 6/7/8/9 about 0.3 C apart. Female pores single on 14. Male pores deep in lateral C-shaped clefts (seminal grooves), the male porophore body appears retractable as a flat pad with five or six setae above a circular disc. Genital markings, in addition to those on male pads, also as small discs lateral of spermathecal pores, plus one pair below 7/8 and another postsetal pair ventrally on 8.

Internally, nephridial forests fill 5 and 6. Septa are all thin, 8/9/10 are absent in position of muscular gizzard. Hearts in 10-13. Spermathecae have a large saccular ampula on muscular duct with long diverticulum inseminat- ed for most of its length. Small glands associated with each spermatheca and in place of GMs. Holandric, with large seminal vesicles in 11 & 12. No vesicles in 13. Prostates on thick duct to infolding of male pores. Ovaries free in 13, no ovisacs in 14. Oesophagus slightly dilated in 13 only, intestine from 15, caeca broad based from 27 and deeply incised ventrally. Parasites not noted.

Remarks. As with A. arx , the male pores are construed as within C-shaped seminal grooves rather than non-superficial and eversible as in Metaphire . The current species differs from A. arx , M. quelparta and other similar species described herein in the shape of its spermathecae and distinctive male field. DNA data are provided for confirmation (Appendix).

Figures

Fig. 6. Amynthas aucklandis sp. nov. holotype showing ventral aspect; prostomium and pygidium, spermathecae, prostate and caecum in situ with [boxed] enlargement of male pore 18lhs].