Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) embrapaensis, Feijoo & Brown, 2018

Feijoo, Alexander & Brown, George G., 2018, New species of Glossoscolex and Fimoscolex earthworms (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae) from Embrapa Forestry, Paraná, Brazil, Zootaxa 4496 (1), pp. 492-502 : 494-496

Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) embrapaensis sp. nov.

( Figure 1 )

Etymology. The name of species given for Embrapa Forestry, one of the research centers of the Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research, and the type locality. Embrapa is the acronym for Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária.

Holotype. COFM BRPR0445 , one adult in topsoil (0–20 cm) of Eucalyptus benthamii plantation at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo municipality, State of Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'22.28"S, 49°09'25.8"W, 954 masl, 22-02-2010, Wagner Maschio, coll.

Paratype. COFM BRPR 0446, 1 adult, same collection data as holotype.

Other material examined. COFM BRPR0197, 11 juveniles, 2 subadult and 3 adults, same collection data as holotype. COFM BRPR0169 , 1 adult in topsoil of grassy area by picnic tables at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19' 2.28"S, 49°09'26"W, 950 masl, 11-08-2010, G. Brown and M Callaham Jr., colls . COFM BRPR0188 , 1 adult extracted with dilute (0.5%) formalin solution from secondary Atlantic Forest in advanced stage of regeneration at Embrapa Florestas, Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'29.1"S, 49°10'00"W, 934 masl, 22-03- 2010, E. da Silva, O. de Lima, G. Brown, D. Andrade, colls . COFM BRPR0279 , 1 juvenile and 2 adults, in topsoil (0–20 cm) of Araucaria angustifolia plantation at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'26.6"S, 49°09'25.2"W, 927 masl, 25-03-2010, E. da Silva, O. de Lima, G. Brown, D. Andrade, colls . COFM BRPR0281 , 4 juveniles in topsoil (0–20 cm) of Araucaria angustifolia plantation at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'13.7"S, 49°09 41.3"W, 928 masl, 10-03-2010, E. da Silva, O. de Lima, G. Brown, D. Andrade, colls . COFM BRPR0418 , 1 juvenile and 1 adult, in topsoil of Araucaria angustifolia plantation at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'18.2"S, 49°09'24"W, 959 masl, 08-09-2009, Earthworm taxonomy course participants, colls . COFM BRPR0423 , 1 juvenile and 1 adult, in topsoil of Araucaria angustifolia plantation at Embrapa Florestas , Colombo, Paraná, Brazil; 25°19'26.6"S, 49°09'25.2"W, 927 masl, 08-09-2009, Earthworm taxonomy course participants, colls.

Description. Endogeic species with cylindrical body, lacking pigmentation. Holotype: length 84.7 mm, diameter 2.1 mm in preclitellar region, 1.9 mm at clitellum, 1.8 mm in postclitellar region. Number of segments 129. Paratype: 71.5 mm long, with diameter 1.6 mm (segment 10), 1.9 mm (segment 21) and 1.4 mm (segment 35). Number of segments 200. The first segment is invaginated. Prolobic peristomium with many grooves and marked rugosity. Eight rows of closely paired setae a, b, c, d, visible from segment 24. Distance between setae in segment 40 is aa:ab:bc:cd:dd = 37.5:1:8.8:0.9:45. A pair of round papillae on either side of segment 14. The annular clitellum lies in segments 15–23 or 24 (only one of 11 adults had clitellum to 24 =9–10 segments), with the tubercula pubertatis located in segments 17–18 (=2) ( Fig. 1A ). Male pores in segment 17 are round, protruding and within a groove in the shape of volcanic crater, with grooves that mark the cavity on each side. Female pores in segment 14. The nephropores are above the setae c and d. Spermethecal pores absent.

Internal anatomy. The anterior septa of the segments 6/7–10/11 are thick, conical and and interpenetrated. Round muscular gizzard with thick musculature in the cavity of segment 6. One pair calciferous glands with shape of an elongated elypse and composite tubular structure [(= Kompositenschlauchtaschen, see Michaelsen (1918: 50)] in segment 12; each gland has six blood vessels that irrigate the center. Oesophagus–intestine transition begins in segment 14 and the typhlosole starts in segment 15, with folded S-shaped sheet. The intestine of holotype and paratype contained pieces of mineral particles such as sand and quartz grains. Intestinal caeca absent. Five pairs of hearts in segments 7–11. One pair of holonephridia per segment. Testes and funnels in single mid-ventral subesophageal sac in xi. Ovaries and ovarian funnels in segment 13. One pair of seminal vesicles beginning in segment 12 and extending to segment 52, in the form of cylinders in each segment ( Fig. 1B ). Spermathecae absent. Male sexual system metandric, with vas deferens beginning in segment 11 and extending backwards, penetrating the copulatory chambers and exiting at the male pore in segment 17. Cylindrical copulatory pouches present in segments 18–21.

Remarks. Glossoscolex (G.) embrapaensis sp. nov. is close to G. (G.) truncatus Rosa, 1895 , G. (G.) bondari Michaelsen, 1925 , G. (G.) lacteus Zicsi & Csuzdi, 1999 , G. (G.) minor Zicsi & Csuzdi, 1999 , G. (G.) giocondoi Bartz & James, 2012 , G. (G.) sanpedroensis Bartz & James, 2012 , G. (G.) terraopimus Bartz & James, 2012 and G (G.) mariarum Bartz & James 2012 by the presence of annular clitellum, but is separated by the position of the clitellum (except G. mariarum and G. terraopimus ), presence of tubercula pubertatis and the position and shape of the copulatory pouches, as well as the setal distances. According to species groups defined by male pore location for the subgenus Glossocolex , G. (G.) embrapaensis belongs to the truncatus group ( Righi & Lobo 1979; see also discussion). Glossoscolex (G.) embrapaensis corresponds to Glossoscolex n. sp. as cited in Maschio et al. (2014).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Glossoscolex (G) embrapaensis sp. nov., holotype. A. Ventral external view of anterior body (preserved), showing female (segment 14) and male (segment 17) pores and the annular clitellum. B. Internal anatomy of anterior segments, dorsal view. Cg= calciferous glands in segment 12; CP= copulatory pouches in segments 18–21; SV= seminal vesicles.