Senapatiella alfredi, 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 : 5-6

Senapatiella alfredi sp. nov.

Type material: INDIA: Karnataka: holotype ( HAZFS /ZSI An791), clitellate, 9 paratypes ( HAZFS /ZSI An792), clitellate, 4 km from Kogar down to Bhatkal [14°03'N 74°43'E], 420m, forest, October 1992 (E. Blanchart).

Additional material: INDIA: Karnataka: coll. E. Blanchart: 10 clitellate, Herbettu, [13°55'N 74°46'E], 680m, pasture, pasture with Phoenix humilis , October 1991, October 1992; 7 clitellate, near Heggarse [13°56'N 74°46'E], 660m, Acacia plantation, October 1991; 2 clitellate, Kudarur [14°00'N 74°48'E], 660m, pasture, October 1991; 2 clitellate, Sulvalli [13°59'N 74°47'E], 640m, forest, October 1992; 2 clitellate, 2 km W Alur [14°00'N 74°48'E], 640m, October 1992; coll. L. Lardy: 26 clitellate, Bhatkal road [14°03'N 74°43'E], 628m, undisturbed evergreen forest, August 2001; 1 clitellate, Murakki, [14°05'N 74°50'E], 619m, open pasture, August 2001.

Diagnosis. Spermathecal pores three pairs, close to mid­ventral line, one pair slightly anterior to setal arc on segment 8 and two pairs on segment 9, of the latter one pair on setal arc and the other pair just in front of setal arc; penial setae ornamented, tips pointed; setae a on segments 8 (rarely) and 9 (occasionally) copulatory and ornamented with a few gouges; number of typhlosolate segments, 41–45.

Senapatiella alfredi sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus, S. ghatensis sp. nov. and S. herbettuensis sp. nov. (described elsewhere in this paper), in having three pairs of spermathecal pores as compared to two pairs in the latter. It is also distinguished from these species by the structure of penial setae ( Figs. 3, 7, 11 ).

Description. Length 26–44 mm, diameter 1.5–2.0 mm, 71–98 segments. First dorsal pore 5/6, some times 4/5. Clitellum 13–17. Setae aa = 1.2 ab = 0.6 bc = cd = 0.14 dd on 12, aa = 2.3 ab = 0.6 bc = 0.9 cd = 0.18 dd on 24; a on 8 (rarely) and 9 (occasionally) copulatory. Male pores minute, slightly median to b lines; prostatic pores minute, at a lines; seminal grooves concave. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs, close to midventral line, one pair slightly anterior to setal arc on 8, two pairs on 9 with one pair on setal arc and the other just anterior to setal arc ( Fig. 2 ).

Septa 5/6/7 delicate, 7/8–12/13 slightly muscular. Intestine begins in 17, typhlosole 22–24 to 62–68 (41–45 segments). Last pair of hearts in 13. Testes and male funnels free in 10 and 11; seminal vesicles in 9 and 12. Penial setae ( Fig. 3 ) sparsely ornamented with triangular teeth, tip pointed, shaft undulating, 0.83–0.93 mm long, 4–5 diameter. Spermathecae ( Fig. 4 ) one pair in 8 and two pairs in 9, each with a shortly stalked somewhat clavate ental diverticulum, duct as long as or a little shorter than ampulla. Copulatory setae ( Fig. 5 ), when present, ornamented with a few scattered gouges, tip pointed, 0.39–0.47 mm long, 15–17 diameter.

Reproduction. Presumably biparental.

Ingesta. Mostly reddish mineral soil, bits of partially decomposed tiny plant roots and a few tiny particles of blackish organic matter.

Ecological data. S. alfredi is widely distributed in pastures (with or without trees), edges and forests with various soil properties: OM content 3.9–9.2 g 100g­1 soil, C/N 11.8–14.4, proportion of gravels (> 2 mm) 10–63%, clay content 22–47%, bulk density 1.12–1.45 Mg m­3, pH (water) 4.6–5.7, cations 1.2–14.6 cmol kg­1 soil, CEC 10.2–24.1 cmol kg­1 soil.

Ecological category. S. alfredi appears to be endogeic on the basis of lack of body pigmentation but with a well­developed intestinal typhlosole, and presence of large amount of soil along with some plants roots in its intestine.

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. J.R.B. Alfred, Director of the Zoological Survey of India for his considerable contribution to Indian soil fauna.

Remarks. Referred as ‘Genus C sp1’ in Blanchart and Julka (1997).

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 12. Senapatiella alfredi sp. nov. (2 – 5): 2, genital region; 3, penial seta; 4, spermatheca; 5, copulatory seta. Senapatiella ghatensis sp. nov. (6 – 9): 6, genital region; 7, penial seta; 8, spermatheca; 9, copulatory seta. Senapatiella herbettuensis sp. nov. (10 – 12): 10, genital region; 11, penial seta; 12, spermatheca. Scale bar 2 mm (2, 6, 10), 0.5 mm (4, 8, 12), 0.08 mm (5, 9), 0.05 mm (3, 7, 11).