Millsonia lamtoiana OMODEO & VAILLAUD, 1967

Csuzdi, Cs., 2006, West African Earthworm Genus Millsonia Beddard, 1894 (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiinae) Reviewed And Separation Of A New Genus, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 52 (1), pp. 35-48 : 39-41

Millsonia lamtoiana OMODEO & VAILLAUD, 1967

Millsonia lamtoiana OMODEO & VAILLAUD, 1967: 932 , SIMS 1986: 297, CSUZDI 1996: 361, CSUZDI 2000 a: 75.

Material examined. MRAC 33.549 2 ex , HNHM AF/5123 1 ex., Ivory Coast, Doropo. Leg. W. VERHEGEN, 25. VIII. 1966, MRAC 34.152 2 juv. ex., Ivory Coast, Lamto. Leg. VAN MOL, VIII. 1968 , MRAC 36.591 1 ex., Ivory Coast, Kossu. Leg . R. JOCQUÉ, 10. VI. 1975. MRAC 37.032 1 ex., 37.044 1 ex., Ivory Coast, Bouaké. Leg. P . ELSEN, V. 1977 , MRAC 37.052 2 ex., Ivory Coast, Kossu. Leg . R. JOCQUÉ, 13. V. 1975.

Remarks. M. lamtoiana was reckoned among the ‘holonephridia’ bearing species by SIMS (1986). Re-examination of the specimen stored in the Natural History Museum, London ( BMNH 1984.12.22, SIMS 1986: 298) revealed that the filiform enteronephric megameronephridia are missing, and the same is true for the present specimens including those from the type locality (Lamto). Therefore, this species shall continue to classify to the genus Millsonia .

Figs 4–7. 4–5 = M. lamtoiana OMODEO & VAILLAUD, 1967: 4 = spermatheca, 5 = male field. 6–7 = M. bouna sp. n.: 6 = ventral view of the clitellar region, 7a = spermatheca from segment vii, 7b =

spermatheca from segment viii

M. lamtoiana is a large darkly pigmented species showing high variability in the number of intestinal caeca. In the original description as well as in the diagnosis of SIMS (1986) there are 19 pairs of intestinal caeca reported in xxviii–xlvi. The specimens from Bouaké and Lamto well correspond to this description, but those from Kossu have 24-26 pairs of caeca in xxviii–li, lii, liii. This number of caeca is similar to that of M. caecifera , but there are differences in the position of the clitellum, in the shape of spermathecae and in the male genital field (Figs 4–5).