Fimoscolex elodieae 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 : 337-338

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

( Figures 14 , 15 )

Holotype. Brazil, one adult, São Paulo, Bananal, Ecological Research Station of Bananal , in alluvial soil near small stream, in the soil; latitude/longitude: 22° 45”6.36’S, 44°21”32.1’W, elevation: 1,178 m asl; February 2009; S.W. James, G.G. Brown, S.K. Davidson, M.L.C. Bartz coll. Sample ID: COFM BRSP0929 .

Paratype. Brazil, one adult, same collection data as holotype. Sample ID: MZUSP 6442 (former COFM BRSP0930 ) .

Other materials. Brazil, two adults, same collection details as holotype. Sample ID: COFM BRSP0154 . Brazil, four adults, same collection details as holotype. Sample ID: COFM BRSP0964 .

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Elodie da Silva, for her participation in many earthworm sampling expeditions and important contributions to molecular analyses performed on many earthworm species from Brazil.

External morphology. Holotype: body length 293 mm ( Figure 14A, B ), body mass 8.05 g after ethanol fixation. Diameter pre clitellar (X) 5.3 mm, at clitellum (XV) 7 mm, and in post clitellar (XXX) 6.3 mm. Number of segments 693. Paratype: length 254 mm, body mass 6.01g after fixation. Diameter at X 5.2 mm, at XV 5.8 mm, and at XXX 5.8 mm. Number of segments 516. Body shape cylindrical. Body pigmentation absent. Prostomium prolobic. Setae beginning in XIV. Setal arrangement at XXX-L aa:ab:bc:cd = 17.7:1.3:4.3:1. Clitellum in XV–XXIX, annular ( Figure 15A ). Genital markings are absent. One male pore in XVII ( Figure 15B ). Female pore not seen. Nephridial pores on b.

Internal anatomy. Septa 7/8/9/10 strong, thick, and membranous, 14/15/16/17, thin and more fragile. Gizzard in VI, strong and yellowish, with an average size (width x length) of 4.5 x 3.2 mm. One pair of calciferous glands in XII of tubular-composite type, with blood vessels dorsal-lateral. Esophagus-intestine transition origin in XV and typhlosole originating in XV, in cupped folds formats till segment LXXXV ( Figure 15E ). Last pair of hearts in XI. Excretory apparatus with one pair of nephridia per segment, and before the copulatory bulb there are modified nephridia with sperm, while after there is one per segment close to the body wall. Testes sacs in XII, with funnels visible connected to sacs. Seminal vesicles starting on XV, with spiral form till XXI ( Figure 15C ), then changes to two parallel lines. Spermathecae absent. One copulatory bulb, big and oval, with nerve cord above, in segments XVII – XVIII ( Figure 15D ).

Remarks: This large-bodied species was found in an alluvial soil near a stream, and was particularly abundant in the deeper soil layers, where it produced many burrows and performed major soil bioturbation, mixing the top dark black horizons with the lower greyish horizon soil ( Figure 14C,D ). F. elodieae is the longest species of this genus, and has the longest clitellum, which occupies 15 segments (XV–XXIX). The only other long Fimoscolex (22 cm) is F. angai Righi, 1971 , also from the Atlantic Forest of the state of São Paulo. Similar to F. pereirai sp. nov., the calciferous gland of F. elodieae sp. nov. has the shape of a comma in segment XII, but contrary to the former species, the glands are well separated. Despite its substantial size, the copulatory bulb occupies only segment XVII.

Figures

FIGURE 14. A,B. Very long adult specimens of Fimoscolex elodieae sp. nov. in-vivo at the moment of collection. C. Burrow of the species and D. Bioturbation with intense mixing of soil from upper and lower horizons, which is particularly important in the deeper soil layers.

FIGURE 15. Fimoscolex elodieae sp. nov. Holotype. A. External lateral view of the clitellum (Cl) and male pore (MP). B External ventral view with male pore (MP) in XVII mid ventral. C. Internal view with seminal vesicle (SV) in charcoal format turning into two straight lines, and the calciferous gland (CG). D. Copulatory bulb (CB) rounded shape. E. Typhlosole (Tp).