Udeina nkandla, Plisko, 2004

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2004, Review of the balantine genus Udeina Michaelsen, 1910 with descriptions of six new species in South Africa (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Acanthodrilinae), African Invertebrates 45 (1998), pp. 287-287 : 303-304

Udeina nkandla sp. n.

Figs 10–12

Etymology: Named after the type locality Nkandla Forest Reserve, an African place name in apposition.

Type material: Holotype: clitellate NMSA /Olig.03533 KwaZulu­Natal: Nkandla Forest Reserve (28º42'43.959"S: 31º08'38.991"E), east facing slope at approx. 1204 m, under grass burnt three years ago, from soil at 30 cm depth, 21 November 2001, A. J.Armstrong & H. Murray . Paratype: NMSA /Olig.03619, 1 abscised juvenile collected together with holotype .

Description:

External features:

Body cylindrical, in life and freshly alcohol­preserved, dorsally violet up to middle of body length; last four segments pigmented circularly; ventrally yellowish­grey. Colouration fading after two years preservation. Holotype 66 mm long, 4 mm wide. Segment number: holotype 142; abscised juvenile 94. Prostomium: tanylobous with distinct sutures. Setae: relatively large, widely paired; at 15–16 distance between ab setae decreasing, on 18–21 increasing; postclitellarly ab <cd, aa = bc. Dorsal pores: not observed. Nephridial pores: not observed. Spermathecal pores: in intersegmental furrow 7/ 8 in front of b setae, on small, elongated swellings. Female pores: paired, in intersegmental furrow 13/14, in front of a setae. Clitellum : saddle­shaped, on 13–17; ventral edges extending to b setal lines. Prostatic pores: one pair in 17, in small, elongated swellings encircling b setae. Male pores: externally not observed, probably in 17/18 as suggesting by ectal parts of vasa deferentia . Seminal grooves: not observed. Papillae: paired, small, elongated, on 19 and 20, below a setae.

Internal characters:

Salivary glands: very short, not extending backwards beyond septum 4/5. Gizzard: in 5, well developed, cylindrical,muscular. Septa:5/6–7/8thin, 8/9–10/11increasing in thickness, although not muscular, 11/12–14/16 decreasing; other septa thin. Intestine: commences in 16. Lateral hearts: four pairs, last pair in 12. Nephridia: large, elongated coiled loops without terminal vesicles, larger in anterior segments; posteriorly much smaller. Ovaries: large funnels in 13, medially, close to intersegmental furrow 13/14. Testes and spermiductal funnels: spermiductal funnels free, iridescent, medially in 10. Vasa deferentia : commencing in 10, extending into 11, then covered by thick tissues of body wall; noted again in 16–17 and in posterior part of segment 17, possibly entering in intersegmental furrow 17/18 behind prostatic pores; ectal parts covered by wall tissues. Seminal vesicles: two pairs; in 9 and 11, both pairs well developed, large, lobulate. Spermathecae ( Fig. 10): in segment 8 with ectal parts entering body wall in intersegmental furrow 7/8. Ampulla large, width nearly twice length, irregularly oval; duct initially thin, widening sharply at connection with ampulla. Diverticulum bilobate, attached to anterior face of duct, terminating below duct’s connection with ampulla. Prostates ( Fig. 11): one pair, moderate in size in 17–20. Prostatic gland, multi­folded, looped, passing irregularly backwards and forwards through segments 19–20–19; thin septa of occupied segments partly pierced. Duct soft, coiled in segment 18, in 17 muscular, evidently entering into pore in segment 17. Penial setae ( Fig. 12): two setae in bunch, both poorly developed; entally straight, ectally curved; a and b differ slightly at ectal parts, being rounded or sharpened. Penial setal retractor muscles: commence at septum 18/19.

Biological notes and distribution: This species was collected from patches of grassland on the eastern slope of a forested area, at about 1200 m, in the Nkandla Forest Reserve located in central KZN, under protection of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Much of the reserve is forested; however, various short grasses occur at the forest margins, and some areas are regularly burned to provide grazing for cattle. The clitellate specimen and one juvenile were found at 30 cm, under grass roots recovering after being burnt. Associated with microchaetid species Proandricus babanango Plisko, 1992 and Tritogenia tetrata Plisko, 2003 .

Discussion: U. nkandla differs from other known congeners in having prostatic pores in segment 17, male pores in intersegmental furrow 17/18, female pores in intersegmental furrow 13/14, and spermathecal bilobate diverticulum.