Shimodrilus karniensis, Julka, J. M., Blanchart, Eric & Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie, 2004

Julka, J. M., Blanchart, Eric & Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie, 2004, New genera and new species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae) from Western Ghats, South India, Zootaxa 486, pp. 1-27 : 13-14

Shimodrilus karniensis sp. nov.

Type material: INDIA: Karnataka: holotype ( HAZFS /ZSI An799), clitellate, 2 paratypes ( HAZFS /ZSI An800), clitellate, near Karni [13°54'N 74°44'E], 680m, forest, October 1992 (E. Blanchart).

Diagnosis. Spermathecal pores paired, slightly posterior to intersegmental furrow 7/8 at about a lines and on setal arc of segment 9 at about mid ab; no setae copulatory; vas deferens discharge directly on to body surface; each spermatheca with a median and lateral diverticula.

Relationships of S. karniensis with the other known species of the genus, S. bhatkalensis , are discussed under the diagnosis of the latter.

Description. Length 73–75 mm, diameter 3–3.5 mm, 131–141 segments. Prostomium prolobic. First dorsal pore 8/9. Clitellum, 14–16. Setae aa = 2.5 ab = 1.3 bc = 1.7 cd = 0.22 dd on 12, aa = 3 ab = 1.5 bc = 1.7 cd = 0.29 dd on 24; no setae copulatory. Male pores minute, slightly median to b lines; prostatic pores at about a lines; seminal grooves slightly concave. Spermathecal pores tiny transverse slits, on anterior margin of 8 just posterior to furrow 7/8 at about a lines, and on setal arc of 9 at about mid ab ( Fig. 17 ).

Septa 5/6 slightly muscular, 6/7–11/12 muscular. Intestine begins in 19, typhlosole 26– 100 (75 segments). Last pair of hearts in 13. Testes and male funnels free in 10 and 11; vas deferens discharge directly on to body surface in 18; seminal vesicles in 11 and 12. Penial setae ( Fig. 18 ) ornamented with incomplete rings of spine­like teeth, tip pointed, 0.89– 1.00 mm long, 18–20 diameter. Spermathecae ( Fig. 19 ) paired, in 8 and 9, each with a median and lateral, shortly stalked, somewhat club­shaped diverticula at about middle of duct, which is shorter than ampulla.

Reproduction. Presumably biparental.

Ingesta. Tiny decomposed plant roots and a few particles of quartz and organic matter in coagulated slime.

Ecological data. S. karniensis is found in forests with following soil properties: OM content 7.8 g 100g ­1 soil, C/N 12.1, clay content 42%, pH (water) 5.1, cations 9.2 cmol kg ­ 1 soil, CEC 19.2 cmol kg­1 soil.

Ecological category. Possibly endogeic.

Etymology. The name karniensis is derived from its type locality ‘Karni’.

Remarks. Referred as ‘Genus A sp2’ in Blanchart and Julka (1997).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 23. Shimodrilus bhatkalensis sp. nov. (13 – 16): 13, genital region; 14, penial seta; 15, spermatheca; 16, copulatory seta. Shimodrilus karniensis sp. nov. (17 – 19): 17, genital region; 18, penial seta; 19, spermatheca. Herbettodrilus bahli sp. nov. (20 – 23): 20, genital region; 21, penial seta; 22, spermatheca; 23, copulatory seta. Scale bar 4.0 mm (17, 20), 2.5 mm (13), 1.5 mm (19, 22), 0.5 mm (15), 0.1 mm (21, 23), 0.05 mm (14, 16, 18).