(Graffia) azul, Sherlock & Csuzdi, 2011

Sherlock, Emma, Lee, Stewart, Mcphee, Sally, Steer, Mark, Maes, Jean Michel & Csuzdi, Csaba, 2011, The first earthworm collections from Nicaragua with description of two new species (Oligochaeta), Zootaxa 2732, pp. 49-58 : 52-53

Eutrigaster (Graffia) azul Sherlock & Csuzdi new species

( Fig. 3 )

Material. Holotype. BMNH 2010.91. Nicaragua, El Jaguar (N 13° 14.29’, W 86°03.083’) Rotting log in Cloud forest. Leg. S. Lee, S. McPhee and E. Sherlock, 0 9.09.2009. Paratype. HNHM AF /5471, Nicaragua, El Jaguar (13°14.368’ N, 86°03.044' W). Within Bromeliad. Leg. E. Sherlock, S. Lee & S. Mcphee.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the characteristic blue colour; azul = blue (spanish). It is also the title of one of the main books written by Ruben Dario, Nicaraguan author.

Diagnosis. L. 79–83 mm, D. 4–5 mm. No, segments: 132–146. Pigmentation blue alive, reddish-brown preserved. First dorsal pore in 11/12. Clitellum 13–20. Ƥ 14 paired, in between a–a. Prostatic pores 17, 19. Spermathecal pores 7/8, 8/9, spermathecae with sac-shaped ampoule, and a duct which ectally bears several small diverticula almost encircling the duct. A large proventriculus in 5, gizzards in 6–7, last pair of hearts in 12, meronephridia 5 on each side. Penial setae are of two types, larger L. 1.2 mm, D. 0.01 mm, tip hooked, ornamentation scattered small teeth. Smaller L. 1.1, mm D. 0.015 mm, tip trihedral, true ornamentation lacking.

External characters. Holotype. Length 83 mm, diameter 5 mm, number of segments 132. The sole paratype 79 mm in length, 4 mm in diameter, number of segments: 146. Colour blue alive, reddish-brown preserved, more prominent on dorsum. Prostomium epilobous open with slight furrows running to segment 2. First dorsal pore in 11/12. Setae all ventral, setal arrangement after the clitellum aa:ab:bc:cd:dd=3.3:1:3.3:1:26.7. Clitellum circular extends over segments 13–20, on 13 slightly developed. Male field barbell-shaped, prostatic pores paired on 17, 19 in the setal line a. Male pores clearly visible on 18, in the seminal groves. Female pores paired on 14 in between setae a–a ( Fig. 3 A). Spermathecal pores paired in 7/8, 8/ 9 in the setal line a. Porophores absent.

Internal characters. The first septum 4/5, septa 11/12–13/14 slightly thickened. A voluminous proventriculus in segment 5 and two oesophageal gizzards in 6 and 7. Three pairs of calciferous glands open separately in segments 15–17, their size slightly increasing backwards. Excretory system meroic, with 6 meronephridia on each side. Paired hearts are present in segments 10–12. Typhlosole small, lamellar, due to the bad preservation of the intestine its beginning can not be determined. There are two pairs of well detached lateral deflections, similar to intestinal caeca in 34, 35.

Testes are enclosed in large suboesophageal testis sacs in 10 and 11. Seminal vesicles lacking. Seminal duct is convoluted, its end widening and becoming muscular before discharging in segment 18. Two pairs of prostatic glands are present in 17 and 19, those in 17 are large and highly coiled, in 19 small. Each prostate is provided with a penial setal sack containing two different types of penial setae. The longer one is about 1.2 mm long and 0.01 mm wide with hooked tip. Ornamentation consists of small scattered teeth. The shorter one is almost smooth only several bumps can be seen just under the tip. Length about 1.1 mm diameter 0.015 mm tip trihedral ( Fig. 3 C–D). There are two pairs of spermathecae in segment 8 and 9. The ampoule is irregular sac-shaped and as long as the muscular duct. The duct ectally bears several bunches of diverticula accompanied by some singular ones almost encircling the duct ( Fig. 3 B).

Remarks. We have assigned E. (G.) azul sp. nov. to the subgenus Graffia due to the presence of penial setae. The new species, regarding the shape of spermathecae is similar to E. (G.) picadoi Michaelsen, 1912 ; however differs from it by presence of two different types of penial setae. E. (G.) azul sp. nov. possessing dimorph penial setae shows some affinity to E. (G.) michaelseniana Csuzdi & Zicsi, 1991 as well but differs from it in the shape of spermathecae and in the morphology of penial setae.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Eutrigaster (Graffia) azul n. sp. A. Ventral view of the clitellar region, B. Spermatheca, C & D. Photographs of the penial setae. fp = female pores, pp = prostatic pores, mp = male pores.