Proandricus michelleae, Plisko, 2002

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2002, Nine new earthworm species of Proandricus Plisko, 1992 from South Africa and Lesotho (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae), African Invertebrates 43, pp. 183-204 : 196-198

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7666001

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C787AC-BD19-575C-9585-FD09FDD6BD51

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Proandricus michelleae
status

sp. nov.

Proandricus michelleae View in CoL sp. n.

( Fig. 8 View Figs 8–9 )

Etymology: Named for Dr M. Hamer of the School of Botany & Zoology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, who collected and donated the type material to the Natal Museum.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Holotype NMSA /Olig.02713, Drakensberg Gardens, Mzimkulwane area (29º42'S: 29º19'E) on surface of path during rainy day, 16 February 1998, M. Hamer and K. Martens leg. Paratype: NMSA / Olig. 02714 collected together with holotype GoogleMaps .

Description based on holotype and paratype.

External characters:

General: Body cylindrical, flattened at clitellum and in the area of tubercula pubertatis. Colour: Alcohol-preserved yellowish-grey. Dimensions: Preserved holotype 110 mm long, 4 mm wide at segment 10, 7 mm at tubercula pubertatis. Paratype 134 mm long, 5 mm wide at 10, 7 mm at tubercula pubertatis. Segment number: Holotype 383. Prostomium: Prolobous, moderate. Segmentation: Secondary annulation present on preclitellar segments; 1 and 2 short, with longitudinal grooves; 3 simple, as long as first ringlet of segment 4; 4–8 with two simple ringlets, similar in size and appearance; 9 with two ringlets, second shorter than first; segments 10–12 simple, irregularly annulated, postclitellar simple. Setae: Moderate in size, closely paired; first pairs on segment 3; on annulated segments on first ringlet; setal distances of aa are not constant on some preclitellar and on some postclitellar segments; on 9–13 aa setae are slightly closer than these on 15– 16; on 17–20, covered by tissue of the tubercula pubertatis, probably located similarly to these on16; on 21–30 distances slightly increasing; ab = cd on all segments; on segments 31 and the following aa> bc. Nephridial pores: Conspicuous, in cd setal lines; first pair in intersegmental furrow 3/4. Female pores: In posterior part of 14, between b and c setal lines. Male pores: It is difficult to establish exact position: two clear, elongated depressions in segment 16 slightly above ab setae suggest presence of male pores; however, in the same segment, medially, near to intersegmental furrow of 16/17, is a longitudinal, single concavity. It can include the pore or pores into which vasa deferentia enter; in dissected specimen vasa deferentia were observed in anterior part of segment 17, close to the external middle cavity; however, in intersegmental furrow 17/18, laterally to tubercula pubertatis are two clear openings that may be male pores. Spermathecal pores: Not observed externally; position of spermathecae noted during dissection indicates they are in intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/13.

Clitellar region ( Fig. 8 View Figs 8–9 ): Clitellum: Saddle-shaped, segmented; on segments 13–23, although clitellar tissues cover segment 13 only dorsally in the middle portion; on 13– 15 ventral edges terminate at cd setae; on 16–20 at edges of tubercula pubertatis; on 21–23 clitellum extends slightly below cd setae. Tubercula pubertatis: On segments 16–20, segmented; on 17–19 marked by brownish colour; vertically stretched rectangles, medially separated and rimmed with narrow strips, extended laterally to clitellar borders; bordering clitellum on 1/n16–1/n20 with clear, enlarged rims. Papillae: A pair of moderately sized, swollen tubercles around ab setae on 12, associated with genital glands.

Internal characters:

Septa: 4/5 5/6 6/7 thin, not thickened; 7/8 and 8/9 thickened very much, muscular, similar in size and appearance; other septa thin, firm. Gizzard: In 7; small, anteriorly muscular, posteriorly soft. Calciferous glands: In 9, lateral; separated dorsally and ventrally. Intestine: Commences in 13. Typhlosole: Commences in 13 as large U-shaped tube; in holotype terminates in segment 170. Dorsal blood vessel: In 5 and 6 double, close; in 7 double in only posterior part, close; in 8 double, separated; 9 double, cordiform; single when crossing septa, in 10 and following segments. Paired dorsoventral vessels: Thin vessels in 5–8; in 9–11 enlarged, moniliform. Nephridia: Meganephridia ; coiled loops and V-shaped caeca.

Reproductive organs: Spermiductal funnels: Proandric arrangement (in segment 10); one pair of large funnels enclosed in common sac; closely connected with seminal sacs at posterior part of segment 10; iridescence confirms presence of sperm. Vasa deferentia: Single ducts run medially at each side of body to anterior part of segment 17, when they enter body wall; it is difficult to establish which cavities noted externally on segment 16 or intersegmental furrow 17/18 correspond with vasa deferentia. Seminal vesicles: One pair of large vesicles anteriorly connected at septum 10/11 with spermiductal funnels; elongated, confined to segment 11; bent vertically and closely touching each other dorsally. Spermathecae: One pair per segment near septa 11/12 and 12/13; tiny, tubular, bent or coiled tubes based on small thickenings. Ovaries: Not observed, covered by body wall tissue. Genital glands: A pair of moderately sized and similar appearance, ventrally in segment 12; twice-folded, elongated glands; associated with papillae.

Biological notes: Collected in outskirts of Drakensberg escarpment, in a patch of Afromontane forest invaded by alien plantations of wattle and pine trees. Associated with the new species martensi , described above.

Discussion: This species belongs to the colletti species-group. It is similar to the new species martensi , having spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/ 13 and clitellum on segments 13–23. However, the shapes of the clitellum and tubercula pubertatis are distinct in both species.

NMSA

KwaZulu-Natal Museum

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