Konkadrilus gatesi, Julka, J. M., Blanchart, Eric & Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie, 2004

Julka, J. M., Blanchart, Eric & Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie, 2004, New genera and new species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae) from Western Ghats, South India, Zootaxa 486, pp. 1-27 : 19-20

Konkadrilus gatesi sp. nov.

Type material: INDIA: Karnataka: holotype ( HAZFS /ZSI An804), clitellate, 3 paratypes ( HAZFS /ZSI An805), clitellate, near Herbettu [13°55'N 74°46E], 680m, edge (forest/pasture), October 1992 (E. Blanchart).

Diagnosis. Spermathecal pores paired, in 7/8/9, close to midventral line; female pore and genital markings single and median; last pair of hearts in 12; seminal vesicles in 9 and 12; copulatory setae absent.

K. gatesi belongs to group of species with spermathecal pores in furrows 7/8/9. It is differentiated from the other member of the group, K. bahli ( Soota and Julka, 1972) by the location of spermathecal pores close to midventral line rather than at ab; unpaired and median female pore and genital markings; last pair of hearts in 12; seminal vesicles in 9 and 12 as against in 11 and 12; absence of copulatory setae.

Description. Length 35–52 mm, diameter 1–1.5 mm, 84–91 segments. Prostomium epilobic, tongue open. First dorsal pore 11/12. Clitellum annular, 13–16. Setae lumbricine, aa = 2 ab = 0.9 bc = 0.9 cd = 0.17–0.21 dd on 12, aa = 2 ab = 0.9–1.0 bc = 0.9–1.0 cd = 0.19–0.22 dd on 24; no setae copulatory. Male pores paired, minute, in seminal grooves, at a lines, on 18; prostatic pores paired, minute, at ends of seminal grooves on 17 and 19, slightly median to a lines; seminal grooves almost straight, bent medially on 17 and 19. Female pore presetal, single, median, minute, on 14. Spermathecal pores paired, minute, close to midventral line, at 7/8 and 8/9 ( Fig. 28 ). Genital markings single, median, at 17/18 and 18/19.

Unpigmented. Septa 4/5–6/7 delicate, 7/8–12/13 slightly muscular. Gizzard in 5; oesophagus with calciferous lamellae in 16; discrete calciferous glands absent. Intestine begins in 19; typhlosole in 21–67 (47 segments). Last pair of hearts in 12. Testes and male funnels free, in 10 and 11; seminal vesicles in 9 and 12. Prostates paired, tubular, in 17 and 19. Penial setae ( Fig. 29 ) ornamented with a few, short, somewhat undulating ridges, tip bluntly pointed, 0.47–0.50 mm long, 14–15 diameter. Spermathecae ( Fig. 30 ) paired, in 8 and 9, each with a lateral, tubular, ental diverticulum, duct bulbous, shorter than ampulla. Genital marking glands absent.

Reproduction. Presumably biparental.

Ingesta. Mostly reddish brown fine mineral soil with fragments of tiny roots and some particles of dark coloured organic matter.

Ecological category. Possibly endogeic.

Ecological data. K. gatesi is restricted to edges (with Strobilanthes).

Etymology. The species is named for Dr. G.E. Gates, an eminent authority on the oligochaete taxonomy.

Remarks. Referred as ‘ Konkadrilus sp3 (nr. bahli Soota & Julka )’ in Blanchart and Julka (1997).

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 34. Konkadrilus shimogensis sp. nov. (24 – 27): 24, genital region; 25, penial seta; 26, spermatheca; 27, copulatory seta. Konkadrilus gatesi sp. nov. (28 – 30): 28, genital region; 29, penial seta; 30, spermatheca. Hoplochaetella lavellei sp. nov. (31 – 34): 31, genital region; 32, penial seta; 33, spermatheca; 34, copulatory seta. Scale bar 3.75 mm (24, 31), 2.0 mm (28, 33), 0.7 mm (26, 30), 0.07 mm (25, 27, 29), 0.05 mm (32, 34).