Linta, WESTERGREN & SIDDALL, 2004

WESTERGREN, STEPHANIE & SIDDALL, MARK E., 2004, Two New Species of Salifid Leeches (Arhynchobdellida: Erpobdelliformes: Salifidae) from South Africa and Madagascar, American Museum Novitates 3456 (1), pp. 1-7 : 2-3

Linta , new genus

Figures 1–8

DESCRIPTION: Body cylindrical, vermiform (fig. 1). Anterior somites with five pairs of eyespots arranged in parabolic arc (figs. 2, 3). Eyes dorsal on II and III (fig. 2), lateral on IV, V, and VI (fig. 3). Pharynx terminating in XIV with three myognaths (muscular jaws) separated by triangular paragnaths (fig. 4); each myognath with a pair of stylets parallel to body axis (fig. 4). Male and female gonopores ventral in XII and XIII (fig. 5). Accessory copulatory pits absent. Ovarian tissue consisting of ovisacs and oviducts, paired, caecate, without common oviduct (fig. 6). Male median reproductive apparatus large with pair of atrial horns directed posteriolaterally (fig. 7); ‘‘prostate’’ glandular tissue situated anterior at junction of atria (figs. 6, 7). Spermducts thick, in loose coil from atria to XV (fig. 7). Testisacs paired, arranged interganglionically in paramedial rows of six (fig. 8); first group at XV/XVI.

TYPE SPECIES: Linta be, n.sp .

ETYMOLOGY: ‘‘ Linta ’’ is a Malagasy word in the Antanosy dialect for ‘‘leech’’, commonly used for the aquatic as opposed to the terrestrial varieties (limatika); originally from the Indonesian lintah for leech.

Figures

Figs 1–8. Linta be, n.gen., n.sp. 1. Dorsal surface. 2. Anteriolateral view of head showing first four eyespots of left side (arrows). 3. Lateral view of head showing third, fourth, and fifth eyespots of left side. 4. Internal surface of pharynx with 2 of 3 pairs of stylet pores (arrows) on myognaths. 5. Ventral region of clitellum with male (m) and female (f) gonopores. 6. Median reproductive apparatus with paired ovaries including separate short oviducts (od) and irregularly lobate ovisacs (os). 7. Median reproductive apparatus with ovaries removed revealing posteriolaterally directed male atria (a) with an anteriorly glandular region between them. 8. First of five sets of six pairs of testisacs (arrows) of XV/ XVI.