Kynotus proboscideus, . & D]D & Qgudnrwr & Csuzdi & Blanchart, 2011

., D] D, Qgudnrwr, Csuzdi, Cs. & Blanchart, E., 2011, New and little known giant earthworms from Madagascar (Oligochaeta: Kynotidae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 285-294 : 290-293

Kynotus proboscideus sp. n.

Figs 6–9

Etymology: From Latin proboscis, referring to the presence of two protrusions on the prostomium.

Diagnosis: Length alive ca 500–600 mm, diameter 15–20 mm; preserved length 280– 320 mm diameter 18–20 mm. Colour dark red on dorsum, pale on ventrum. Head with two protrusions. Segments 1–3 simple, 3–13 double ringed. Setae ab and cd appear from segment 17. Male pore on 16. Clitellum circular on 22–47, 48. Setae closely paired, both ab and cd lateral. Spermathecal pores lateral, 6–9 on each side in 13/14, 14/15, 15/16. Spermathecae large, irregular sac-shaped, duct short. Genital setal glands in 13, 14, 15. Genital setae lanceolate, length 3.2 mm, diameter 0.06 mm, ornamentation dense serrations.

Description:

Holotype: Contracted length 320 mm, diameter after clitellum 20 mm. Segment number: 734 ( Fig. 6). Paratypes: Contracted length 280–320 mm, 13–20 mm in diameter. Segment number: 532–601. The weight of the preserved worms ranges between 44– 58 g. Colour: Alive dark red on dorsum becoming pale abruptly ventrally from cd, preserved dark brown on dorsum and lighter on ventrum. Head: Prolobous with two prominent protrusions ( Fig. 7). Segments: 1–3 simple, 4–13 clearly double ringed. Dorsal pores: Lacking. Setae: Small, both ab and bc became observable on segment 17. All setae lateral, setal ratio aa: ab: bc: cd: dd = 40:1.25:7.5:1:37.5. Nephridial pores: Begin on segment 2, somewhat dorsal to setal line ab.

Clitellum: Circular on segments 22–47, 48. Male pores: Ventral on 16. Female pores: Not observable. Spermathecal pores: Lateral, 6–9 on each side in intersegmental furrows 13/14, 14/15, 15/16. Genital setal pores: Segmental, irregularly occur on lateral sides of segments 13, 14 and 15.

Internal characters: Muscular gizzard: In 5, well developed, cylindrical. Septa : 5/6– 12/13 strongly thickened. Calciferous glands: Lacking, even lamellar thickening of oesophagus missing. Dorsal blood vessel: Simple. Hearts: In 6–11, large moniliform, especially those in 10, 11. Testes and sperm funnels: In 10, 11 enclosed in peritoneal sack. Seminal vesicles: Lacking. Ovaries: In 13. Copulatory chamber: Large, oval, occupies ventral part of segments 15–20. Each copulatory chamber bears irregular prostate-like gland (pseudoprostate) bulging up to segment 25. Spermathecae: In 13/14, 14/15, 15/16, 6–9 per side, irregular sac-shaped, their size increases toward ventral pairs ( Fig. 8). Genital setal organ: Three pairs in segments 13, 14, 15, consisting of slightly spiral gland similar in shape to pseudoprostates and genital setal sac containing several genital setae. Genital setae: Lanceolate, tip slightly depressed, 3.2 mm in length, 0.06mm in diameter, with unequal serrated ornamentation. Serrations on dorsal side small and scattered, on ventral side dense and long ( Fig. 9).

Holotype: MADAGASCAR: Ambatondrazaka district, Toamasina town, Mangalaza (17°18'32.3"S: 48°46‵4Ɵ.6̎(), 8ƟƟ P, l7.LLL.2ƟlƟ, 0. 5D]D¿QGUDNRWR (+1+0 $)/ƽƽll).

Paratypes: Same data as holotype ( HNHM AF/5512 1 ex, ZMUA-027: 2+ 2 ex.); Ambatondrazaka district, 7 RDPDVLQD WRZQ, 7VDUDKRQHQDQD (l7°l8‵4Ɵ.l̎6:48°36‵ƽ8.4̎(), 93ƽ P, 2ƽ.LLL.2ƟlƟ, 0. 5D]D¿QGUDNRWR (ZMUA-029 1 ex.); Ambatondrazaka district , Toamasina town, Vohitsoa (17°26'57.3"S: 48°33'52.3"E), 76ƽ P, 2ƽ.LLL.2ƟlƟ, 0. 5D]D¿QGUDNRWR (=08$-Ɵ28 l H[.) .

Habitat: At all places the vegetation is formed by bush composed of invasive species ( Phytolacca acinosa , Salvia coccinea , Ageratum conyzoides , Lantana camara , Ricinus communis , Sida rhombifolia ), with many dead leaves on the soil and some other plant PDWHULDO WKDW VWDUWV WR EH KXPL¿HG.

Remarks: The new species is similar to K. kelleri Michaelsen, 1892 in its size and colour, but clearly differs from it by the higher number of spermathecae (1–3 per side in kelleri , 6–9 in proboscideus ) and the presence of two prominent probosces on the prostomium. There is only one other species with similar head structure, K. schistocephalus Michaelsen, 1897 , but the new species is easy to distinguish because of its longer clitellum (21–40 in schistocephalus , 22–27, 48 in proboscideus ) and the higher number of spermathecae (1–3 in schistocephalus , 6–9 in proboscideus ).