Fimoscolex cunhai Dudas, James, Brown & Bartz, 2025

Dudas, Rafaela Tavares, James, Samuel Wooster, Bartz, Marie L. C. & Brown, George Gardner, 2025, New earthworm species of Glossoscolex Leuckart, 1835 and Fimoscolex Michaelsen, 1900 (Clitellata: Glossoscolecidae) from southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 5589 (1), pp. 321-345 : 334-336

Fimoscolex cunhai Dudas, James, Brown & Bartz sp. nov.

( Figure 12 )

Holotype. Brazil, one adult, Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia National Park, Abrigo Rebouças , high plateau grassland, in the soil; latitude, longitude: 22°23”5.5’S, 44°40”45.24’, elevation: 2,380 m asl; 12 February 2009; S.W. James, M.L.C. Bartz, S.K. Davidson and G.G. Brown coll. Sample ID: COFM BRRJ0055 .

Paratype. Brazil, one adult, same collection data as holotype. Sample ID: MZUSP 6441 (former COFM BRRJ0056 ) .

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Luis Filipe das Neves Cunha from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, for his many contributions to earthworm ecology, distribution, and molecular biology in Brazil and elsewhere in the world.

External morphology. Holotype: body length 56 mm, body mass 0.44 g after ethanol fixation. Diameter pre clitellar (X) 4.4 mm, at the clitellum ( XV) 5.1 mm, and post clitellar ( XXX) 3.2 mm. Number of segments 145. Paratype: length 5 0mm, body mass: 0.22 g after fixation. Diameter at X 5 mm, at XV 5.4 mm and at XXX 4.3 mm. Number of segments 163. Body shape cylindrical, pigmentation absent. Prostomium prolobic-epilobic type. Setae beginning in XIII. Setal arrangement at XXX-L aa:ab:bc:cd = 11:1.3:4.7:1. Clitellum in XV– XXI, annular. Genital markings are absent. One male pore in XVII, as a mid-ventral rounded pad ( Figure 12A ), and female pore not recognized. Nephridial pores on b line.

Internal anatomy. Septa 6/7/8 membranous and strong, on 10/11/12/13 becomes thinner ( Figure 12C ). Gizzard in VI strong with an average size (width x length) of 2.7 x 2.3 mm ( Figure 12C ). Calciferous glands one pair in XII, composite-tubular type, with dorsal blood vessels. Esophagus-intestine transition origin in XV. Typhlosole origin in XV, in cupped folds, from XV till approximately C, then turns almost smooth stripes. Hearts in XX– XI, on the dorsal lateral position. One pair of nephridia per segment, aligned to the intestine and body wall per segment ( Figure 12C ). Unpaired test sac in XI. Seminal vesicles in XV, long lines above the intestine, extending from segment XII onwards. Spermathecae absent. One copulatory bulb, round and large in XVII – XVIII.

Remarks. F. cunhai sp. nov. exhibits an annular clitellum, similar to F. tairim , F. schmelzi sp. nov., and F. feijooi sp. nov., but F. cunhai sp. nov. has a single testis sac in XI, while the first species has paired testes sac (in XI), and the last has a pair of sacs (XI–XII). The single (unpaired) testis sac of F. cunhai sp. nov. is shared with F. barettai sp. nov., F. pereirai sp. nov., F. elkeae sp. nov., F. elodieae sp. nov., F. schmelzi sp. nov., F. ohausi , F. angai minor and F. nivae , but all these species have clitellum in different positions or different type (saddle).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Fimoscolex cunhai sp. nov. Holotype. A. External view of ventral side showing the clitellum (Cl) and male pore (MP). B. External view of the posterior part, showing the pygidium (Pg) at CXLV and setal arrangement (St) at CXXXIII. C. Internal view showing the gizzard (Gz) in VI, thick septa (Sp) and modified nephridia (Np).