Parachilota hottentotianus Pickford, 1937

Plisko, J. D., 2008, New South African Acanthodrilinae earthworm species, with new data for some earlier known members of the genus Parachilota (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 21-21 : 24-25

Parachilota hottentotianus Pickford, 1937

Fig. 4

Parachilota hottentotianus: Pickford 1937: 410–412 .

Material examined: Western Cape: NMSA /Olig.02002, Hottentots Holland Nat. Res., hiking trial opposite Landroskloof (34°02'S: 18°59'E), eastern slope of mountain at ca 1350 m, on walking path on rainy day, 7.ix.1994, W.F. Sirgel ; SAMC A21572 (holotype) and SAMC A21573 (paratype), Landrost Neck , at ca 1220 m, Hottentots Holland Mtns, Caledon side [34°16'S: 19°25'E], i.1916, K.H. Barnard .

Distribution: The present record confirms the endemic occurrence of this species in the eastern part of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, extending the known range of the species slightly beyond the earlier noted site near Caledon.

Biological notes: New material was found in early spring, after a few rainy days, on the surface of a soaked pathway, together with the microchaetid Kazimierzus sirgeli (Plisko, 1996) . The penial setae and spermathecae are in early development, and no sperm was observed in small diverticula, suggesting that the specimen was at the early sexual phase, although prostates were well developed, each confined to one segment ( Fig. 4 ). Comments: New material, although being not fully mature, with only slightly marked clitellum, matches the description of this species. The unilobate spermathecae and distal end of penial setae resemble these drawn by Pickford (1937), and match characters observed in the type material.

Figures

Figs 4, 5. (4) Parachilota hottentotianus Pickford, 1937, prostatic glands, 500×; (5) P. ncandu sp. n., holotype, spermatheca of segment 9, 400×. Abbreviations: A – ampulla, D – spermathecal duct, UDv – unilobate diverticulum.