Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) cardosoi, Feijoo-Martínez & Brown, 2023

Feijoo-Martínez, Alexander & Brown, George G., 2023, Three new Glossoscolex (Annelida: Crassiclitellata: Glossoscolecidae) in the truncatus group from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Zootaxa 5255 (1), pp. 220-234 : 224

Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) cardosoi sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 )

Etymology. The name of the species is given in honor of Guilherme Cardoso, for his contributions to earthworm collections in the Caratuva Massif, where 13 new earthworm species were collected ( Cardoso et al., 2014).

Holotype. BRPR1849 , one adult collected from the surface soil layer (0-20 cm depth), 20 April , 2012, Pico Paraná State Park, Campina Grande do Sul, Paraná state, Brazil; 25.236378°S, 48.839709°W, V. Tedeschi, A. Feijoo, G.G. Brown, and G. Cardoso, colls.

Paratype. MZUSP5358 (formerly BRPR 1848 ) , one adult, same collection data as holotype .

Other material examined. BRPR0439 , one adult and BRPR0437 , 4 adults without posterior ends, 7 juveniles (4 without posterior ends), same collection data as holotype . BRPR1019 , three juveniles collected from the surface soil layer (0-20 cm depth), 14 December , 2011, Pico Paraná State Park, Campina Grande do Sul, Paraná state, Brazil; 25.23646°S, 48.84003°W, H. Nadolny, G.G. Brown, W. Maschio, L. Clasen, V. Tedeschi and G. Cardoso, colls. BRPRDNA0005, one adult and BRPRDNA0040, one adult without posterior end, collected from the surface soil layer (0-20 cm depth), 05 July , 2012, Pico Paraná State Park , Campina Grande do Sul , Paraná state, Brazil; 25.23762°S, 48.83823°W, Lina Clasen, M. Vencatto, G.G. Brown, H. Nadolny and G. Cardoso, colls. BRPRD- NA0108, one sub-adult, collected from the surface soil layer (0-20 cm depth), 09 March , 2012, Pico Paraná State Park, Campina Grande do Sul, Paraná state, Brazil; 25.23646°S, 48.84003°W, G. Brown, G. Cardoso, L. Clasen, V. Tedeschi, I. Lange, colls .

Description. Endogeic species with cylindrical body, lacking pigmentation. Holotype: length of preserved holotype 237 mm, diameter 3.5 mm in the preclitellar region, 5.6 mm in the clitellum, and 4.8 mm in the postclitellar region. Number of segments: 363. Paratype: length 192 mm long and widths of 4.4 mm (segment 10), 4.6 mm (segment 20) and 4.6 mm (segment 38). Number of segments: 314. Prolobic prostomium ( Fig. 2A ) with first segment invaginated. Eight rows of closely paired setae with a, b visible from segment 23, and c, d from 26. Setae ratio in segment 40: aa:ab:bc:cd:dd = 15.3:1:3.3:0.8:14.7. Segments 6, 7, and 8 are biannular, while 9-14 are triannular. The saddle-shaped clitellum occupies 9-10 segments in 15–23,24 (in one indivual: BRPRDNA0005), with tubercula pubertatis in segments 17-19 (=3) ( Fig. 2B ). The male pores are located in segment 17, within a groove in a small uplifted mound, and female pores are pre-setal in segment 14, in line with nephropores. In one specimen (BRPR0439), the clitellum has one of the male pores displaced to segment 18 ( Fig. 2C ). The nephropores are close to b setae line.

Internal anatomy. Septa of segments 6/7–9/10 are thick, conical and interpenetrated. Round and thick gizzard in segment 6. A pair of oval calciferous glands are found in segment 12, with composite tubular structure (Kompositenschlauchtaschen), and lumen greatly irrigated with blood vessels that completely fill the interior spaces of the gland ( Fig. 2D ). Oesophagus-intestine transition in segment 14 and typhlosole beginning in segment 14, consisting of three simple thick and short blades ( Fig. 2E ). Intestinal caeca absent. Five pairs of lateral-oesphageal hearts in segments 7–11. One pair of holonephridia per segment. Ovaries and ovarian funnels in segment 13. One pair of seminal vesicles restricted to segment 12. Male sexual system metandric, testes and funnels in single midventral subesophageal sac in segment 11, with vas deferens beginning in segment 11, extending backwards, penetrating the copulatory chambers and exiting at the male pore in segment 17. Bean-shaped copulatory chamber in segment 17 (except in the specimen BRPR0439, where one is in 17 and the other in segment 18, following the male pore position displacement; Fig. 2C, F ).

Cocoons. The cocoons are oblong and have a long strand on one side and a smaller strand on the other (cocoon on right in Fig. 2G ), and give rise to a single individual ( Fig. 2H ).

Remarks. Glossoscolex (G.) cardosoi sp. nov. is close to G. (G.) riograndensis Bartz & James, 2018 (Rosário do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) and G. (G.) riograndensis pollulus Bartz & James, 2018 (Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) by the presence of a saddle-shaped clitellum, male pores in 17, but is separated by the presence of tubercula pubertatis, seminal vesicles restricted to segment 12 and the position and shape of the copulatory pouches, as well as the setal distances. In the truncatus group, only two other species have triple typhlosole like G. (G.) cardosoi : G. pastivus Bartz & James, 2018 and G. pampas Bartz & James, 2018 , both from Rio Grande do Sul. Adult individuals are generally over 20 cm long in the field, but preserved individuals measure from 150 to 240 mm ( Fig. 2I ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) cardosoi, sp. nov. A. External view of the anterior portion, showing prostomium and muscular frontal segments. B. External view showing secondary annulation and the clitellar region, with the male pores in segment 17. C. External view of the clitellar zone of one individual with an abnormal male pore displaced to segment 18. D. Crosssection showing the internal structure of the calciferous gland of the holotype, with composite tubular structure, and lumen greatly irrigated with blood vessels that completely fill the interior spaces of the gland in segment 12. E. Typhlosole consisting of three simple thick but short blades.