Amynthas gracilis ( Kinberg, 1867 )

Nxele, Thembeka C., 2012, The megadrile fauna (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of Queen Elizabeth Park, South Africa: species composition and distribution within different vegetation types, African Invertebrates 53 (2), pp. 543-543 : 552

Amynthas gracilis ( Kinberg, 1867)

Nitocris gracilis: Kinberg 1867: 102 .

Perichaeta hawayana Rosa, 1891: 396 .

Pheretima hawayana: Gates 1972: 189 ; Ljungström 1972 a: 51.

Amynthas gracilis: Sims & Easton 1972: 235 .

Amynthas hawayanus: Dlamini 2002: 62 ; Plisko 2010: 303.

Type locality: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro .

Description:

External: Body length 100–130 mm, width 3–5 mm, number of segments 85–95. Prostomium epilobous. First dorsal pore in 10/11. Clitellum circular on 14–16. Spermathecal pores paired in intersegmental furrows 5/6–7/8, ca 0.25–0.30 of body circumference apart. Female pore single on 14, minute. Male pores paired on 18. Genital markings: three pairs near the male pores on 18, forming the shape of a semicircle.

Internal: Septa 6/7 and 7/8 slightly thickened, 8/9 and 9/10 missing. Gizzard in 8–10. Intestinal origin in 15. Caeca simple originating in 27 extending forward. Holandric. Spermathecae large and roundish with elongate diverticulum, in 6–8. Seminal vesicles in 11–12. Prostates racemose, large, in 17–21 and 22.

Material examined:43 cl.: Woodland, on the side of the road near fence (29°34.810'S 30°19.271'E), 23.ii.2012, 8 cl., NMSA /Olig.06102; Woodland, near Nursery (29°33.867'S 30°19.106'E), 3087 ft, 23.ii.2012, 1 cl., NMSA /Olig.06168; 7 cl., NMSA /Olig.06098; Woodland, small grass with bush near road (29°34.345'S 30°19.377'E), 7.i.2012, 2 cl., NMSA /Olig.06096; Indigenous Bush (29°34.357'S 30°19.399'E), 22.ii.2012, 3 cl., NMSA /Olig.06169; Indigenous Bush, big trees, soft moist soil (29°34.219'S 30°19.177'E), 3105 ft, 22.ii.2012, 3 cl., NMSA /Olig.06170; 15 cl., NMSA /Olig.06113; Indigenous bush, big trees wet soil, dense cover (29°34.151'S 30°19.263'E), 2996 ft, 22.ii.2012, 1 cl., NMSA /Olig.06171; Plantation, wattle & pine (29°33.655'S 30°18.919'E), 3106 ft, 23.ii.2012, 2 cl., NMSA /Olig.06120; Grassland, open patch of grass (29°34.123'S 30°19.153'E), 7.i.2012, 1 cl., NMSA /Olig.06137 .

Remarks: The species occurs in six South African provinces (Plisko 2010), namely LP, MP, GP, NW, KZN and EC. It is common in natural as well as agricultural habitats ( Ljungström 1972 a; Reynolds & Reinecke 1976).