Senapatiella ghatensis, 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 : 8-9

Senapatiella ghatensis sp. nov.

Type material: INDIA: Karnataka: holotype ( HAZFS /ZSI An793), clitellate, 1 paratype ( HAZFS /ZSI An794), clitellate, 12 km W Kogar down to Bhatkal [14°04'N 74°41'E], 150m, forest, October 1991 (E. Blanchart).

Additional material: INDIA: Karnataka: coll. E. Blanchart: 1 clitellate, between Herbettu and Karni [13°56’N 74°44'E], 580m, edge (forest/pasture), October 1991.

Diagnosis. Spermathecal pores two pairs close to midventral line, on setal arcs of segments 8 and 9; penial setae unornamented, tips pointed; setae a on segment 8 copulatory, unornamented; number of typhlosolate segments, 60.

S. ghatensis is closely related to S. herbettuensis in having two pairs of spermathecal pores on segments 8 and 9. It is, however, distinguishable from S. herbettuensis by the location of these pores close to midventral line on setal arcs, which in the latter are presetal and slightly median to a setal lines ( Figs. 6, 10 ). Other differences from S. herbettuensis are in the shape of the tips and ornamentation of its penial setae ( Figs. 7, 11 ), and more number of typhlosolate segments.

Description. Length 51–73 mm, diameter 2–2.5 mm, 98–114 segments. First dorsal pore 4/5. Clitellum 13–17. Setae aa = 1.7 ab = 1.2 bc = 0.8 cd = 0.15 dd on 12, aa = 1.7 ab = 0.7 bc = 0.7 cd = 0.17 dd on 24; a on 8 copulatory. Male pores minute, at b lines; prostatic pores minute, at a lines; seminal grooves concave. Spermathecal pores paired, close to midventral line, on setal arcs of 8 and 9 ( Fig. 6 ).

Septa 5/6/7/8 delicate, 8/9–12/13 slightly muscular. Intestine begins in 17, typhlosole 24 to 83 (60 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. 7 ) unornamented, tip bluntly pointed, shaft undulating, 0.65–0.77 mm long, 3–4 mm diameter. Spermathecae paired ( Fig. 8 ), in 8 and 9, each with an ental club­shaped diverticulum, duct about as long as ampulla. Copulatory setae ( Fig. 9 ) unornamented, tip pointed, 0.35 mm long, 18 diameter.

Reproduction. Presumably biparental.

Ingesta. Coagulated white slime containing some reddish mineral soil and tiny rock particles.

Ecological data. It is mainly found in forests and edges with following soil properties: OM content 4.2–7.3 g 100g­1 soil, C/N 11.9–16.6, proportion of gravels (> 2 mm) 57–59%, clay content 20–49%, bulk density 0.94–1.29 Mg m­3, pH (water) 4.8–5.3, cations 4.3–9.2 cmol kg­1 soil, CEC 10.4–19.9 cmol kg­1 soil.

Ecological category. The quality of intestinal ingesta, absence of body pigmentation and presence of a well­developed intestinal typhlosole indicates that S. ghatensis is possibly endogeic.

Etymology. The name ghatensis is derived from the ‘Western Ghats’ in which the study area is located.

Remarks. Referred as ‘Genus C sp2’ in Blanchart and Julka (1997).

Senapatiella herbettuensis sp. nov.

Type material: INDIA: Karnataka: holotype ( HAZFS /ZSI An795), clitellate, 3 paratypes ( HAZFS /ZSI An796), clitellate, Herbettu, [13°56'N 74°46'E], 600–750m, bush in pasture with Phoenix humilis , forest, October 1991, October 1992 (E. Blanchart).

Additional material: INDIA: Karnataka: coll. E. Blanchart: 1 clitellate, Murakki near Lingannamaki reservoir, [14°84'N 74°58'E], 630m, forest, October 1992.

Diagnosis. Spermathecal pores two pairs, presetal, slightly median to a lines on segments 8 and 9; penial setae ornamented, tips spatulate; no setae copulatory; number of typhlosolate segments, 42.

Distinguishing characteristics of S. herbettuensis from its closely allied species, S. ghatensis are discussed under the diagnosis of the latter.

Description. Length 38–40 mm, diameter 1.5–2.0 mm, 78–84 segments. First dorsal pore, 4/5 or 5/6. Clitellum 13–17. Setae aa = 2 ab = 0.9 bc = 0.9 cd = 0.2 dd on 12, aa = 2.4–3.4 ab = 1.2–1.7 bc = 1.2–1.7 cd = 0.24–0.4 dd on 24; no setae copulatory. Male pores minute, slightly median to b lines; prostatic pores minute, at a lines; seminal grooves concave. Spermathecal pores paired, presetal, slightly median to a lines on 8 and 9 ( Fig. 10 ).

Septa 5/6/7 very delicate and partially aborted, 7/8 delicate, 8/9–12/13 slightly muscular. Intestine begins in 17, typhlosole 23 to 64 (42 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.11 ) sparsely ornamented with spine­like triangular teeth, tip spatulate, shaft slightly undulating, 0.54–0.57 mm long, 3–4 mm diameter. Spermathecae paired ( Fig. 12 ), in 8 and 9, each with a tubular or somewhat clavate ental diverticulum, duct shorter than ampulla.

Reproduction. Presumably biparental.

Ingesta. Mostly reddish mineral soil, a few bits of decaying plant rootlets and tiny pieces of bark.

Ecological data. S. herbettuensis inhabits forests and bushes (with cow dung) with following soil properties: OM content 9.2–10.0 g 100g­1 soil, C/N 13.1–14.0, proportion of gravels (> 2 mm) around 58%, clay content 43–49%, bulk density 0.82–1.12 Mg m­3, pH (water) 4.6–5.2, cations 10.3–14.3 cmol kg­1 soil, CEC 23.1–27.2 cmol kg­1 soil.

Ecological category. Possibly endogeic.

Etymology. The name of the species is derived from its type locality ‘Herbettu’.

Remarks. Referred as ‘Genus C sp3’ 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).