taxonID	type	description	language	source
996F6F0DFF80FFEB76F0CC65EEB32999.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Perionyx excavatus Perrier, 1872.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF80FFEB76F0CC65EEB32999.taxon	distribution	Distribution: India, Myanmar and Malaysia (Sunda); with four cosmopolitan species (Gates 1972; Blakemore 2012).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: B 03 BD 40 F- 14 D 9 - 455 D-A 073 - D 571 CFB 12820 (Figs 1 & 2)	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype: Clitellate (ZSI – GNC – An 8454 / 2), Mane Bhanjang (26.988430 ° N; 88.121902 ° E), Darjeeling District, West Bengal State, India; 1970 m above mean sea level; 24 October 2009; leg. Rahul Paliwal. Paratypes: 102 clitellates (ZSI-GNC-An 8455 / 2), collection details are as same as the holotype.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Small sized worm, length 35 – 100 mm; width 2 – 3.5 mm at segment 10; segments 58 – 110. Prostomium epilobous, tongue open. Setae perichaetine, present from segment 2, no dorsal and ventral break. Setae, 50 – 58 on segment 5; 52 – 60 on segment 10, 52 – 58 on segment 20, ventral setae a – c on segments 7 and 8, a – e on segment 18 lacking. First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrows 3 / 4 or 4 / 5. Clitellum reddish, annular on segments 12, 13 – 17 (5 – 6 segments), setae present. Nephridiopores lateral, in a single regular rank. Female pore single, pre-setal on segment 14. Spermathecal pores in small longitudinal slits, closely paired in intersegmental furrows 6 / 7 and 7 / 8 at ab setal lines. Male pores on segment 18 at bc. Genital markings present. Penes absent. Gizzard small, cylindrical in segment 5. Intestine begins in segment 17. Last pair of hearts in segment 13. Ovaries and funnels in segment 13, ovaries fan-shaped, with several egg strings. Spermathecae large, ampulla ovoid, duct about the length of ampulla, diverticulum represented by 3 – 5 iridescent chambers, at or just below the junction of ampulla and duct. Holandric, testis free, funnels iridescent in segments 10 and 11. Seminal vesicles in segments 11 and 12. Prostates racemose, large, occupied 4 – 5 segments 16, 17 to 20, 21, duct J shaped. Penial setae 4 – 8, length 0.90 – 0.94 mm, width 28 – 30 µm.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	description	Description. External. Small sized worms, body cylindrical, colour brownish (preserved specimens). Dimension: Holotypes: length 77 mm; width 3 mm at segment 10; segments 106; (Paratypes: length 35 – 100 mm; width 2 – 3.5 mm at segment 10; segments 58 – 110). Prostomium 2 / 3 epilobous, tongue open (Fig. 1 B). Setae perichaetine, present from segment 2, no dorsal and ventral break, 50 on segment 5; 52 on segment 10; 52 on segment 20 (paratypes: 50 – 58 on segment 5; 52 – 60 on segment 10; 52 – 58 on segment 20). Ventral setae a – c on segments 7 and 8, a – e on segment 18 missing). First functional dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 4 / 5, a small dot in 3 / 4. Clitellum reddish, annular on segments 13 – 171 / 2 (paratypes: 12, 13 – 171 / 2, 17; 4.5 – 6 segments), setae present, dorsal pores present as white dots. Nephridiopores in a single regular rank, lateral at about p setal line, just posterior to intersegmental furrows, more prominent white dots on clitellum segments. Female pore single, pre-setal on segment 14, surrounded by a whitish oval patch (Fig. 1 D). Spermathecal pores in small longitudinal slits, closely paired in intersegmental furrow 6 / 7 and 7 / 8 at ab setal lines (Fig. 1 A, C). Male pores on segment 18 at bc setal lines, in small oval depression; within the depression two parallel, longitudinal, dumbbell-shaped slits are formed, in which male pores are present always on posterior of the setal arc and penial setae on anterior of the setal arc (Fig. 1 D). Male field occupies the length of segment 18, slightly pushing the segments 17 and 19. Genital markings single, median, a prominent white depression (tongue like), posterior to spermathecal pores on segments 7 and 8. The markings begin near the middle of the spermathecal pores and extend to the setal arc of segment 7 and 8, ventral setae a – c on the respective segments absent (Fig. 1 A). Penes absent; penial setae present. Internal. Greenish pigmentation in circular muscle layer (preserved specimens). Septa 5 / 6 – 8 / 9 thickened, 9 / 10 to 12 / 13 slightly thickened. Gizzard small, cylindrical, little developed in segment 5; oesophagus widened in segments 12 to 14, with longitudinal calciferous ridges on the inner wall of segment 13; intestine begins in segment 17; typhlosole absent. Dorsal blood vessel single, bifurcates in to branches just behind the brain, two branches pass ventrally and reunite over the subpharyngeal ganglion to form the ventral blood vessel. Supra-oesophageal recognizable in segments 10 – 13, in each segment bifurcates twice one branch to the hearts of respective segments and other to the wall of gut. Hearts of 10 – 13 lateral oesophageal, last heart in segment 13 (Fig. 2 A), commissures of 6 – 9 lateral, a pair of vessels given off from the dorsal vessel on the gut wall in segment 14. Sub-neural turn lateral from under the nerve cord in segment 15, in segment 13 passing onto the gut, where it is continuous with the extra-oesophageal, a smaller branch continuing the trunk anteriorly under the nerve cord, unrecognizable anterior to segment 11. Mega-nephridial, nephridia avesiculate, nephridial blade end at same line. Ovaries and funnels in segment 13, ovaries fan-shaped, with several egg strings (Fig. 2 A). Spermathecae large, ampulla ovoid, duct about the length of ampulla (Fig. 2 B); diverticulum represented with 3 – 4 iridescent seminal chambers, just below the junction of ampulla and duct. Holandric, testis free, funnels iridescent in segments 10 and 11 (Fig. 2 A). Seminal vesicles in segments 11 and 12, communicating dorsally above the gut. Prostates racemose, large, in segments 17 – 20 (paratypes: 16,17 – 20,21), indented into numerous lobes, duct inverted J shaped, with a short curve at ental end (Fig. 2 C); vas deferens opens into the ental end of prostatic duct at the middle of glandular portion (Fig. 2 C). Penial setae in Y - shaped sacs on each side, each follicle with two setae anterior to the prostatic duct. Length 0.93 mm, width 30 µm, length 0.93 mm, slightly curved at proximal end, ornamented with fine spines at distal end about ¼ of the penial setae (Fig. 1 E), (paratypes: penial setae, number 4 – 8, length 0.90 – 0.94 mm, width 28 – 30 µm). Genital marking glands absent. Variation. Spermathecal ampulla ovoid to pear shaped or irregular shaped with few bladders like out growths, sac is filled with thick and solid, reddish colour coagulum (looks like glands), with iridescent pocket of sperm at the center. Diverticula sometime represented with one or two iridescent dots on lateral face at or little below the junction of ampulla and duct. Extra-oesophageal and Sub-neural vessel unrecognizable in some (5 dissected) specimens. Intestine beginning in segment 171 / 2 or 18.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name “ manebhanjangensis ” is a toponym, named after the type locality Mane Bhanjang, a small town in North Bengal, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mane Bhanjang, Darjeeling District, West Bengal State, India.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF83FFEF76F0CBDAEADE2FE1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Perionyx manebhanjangensis sp. nov. belongs to the quadrithecal group of species, characterized by spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 6 / 7 and 7 / 8. Within this group, it is closely related to Perionyx alatus Stephenson, 1920 and Perionyx pallidus Stephenson, 1917 because of the presence of penial setae and last pair of hearts in segment 13. The new species can be distinguished from Perionyx alatus Stephenson, 1920 in position of spermathecal pores (6 / 7 / 8 at ab vs 6 / 7 / 8 at de setal lines), extension of prostate glands in segments (16,17 – 20,21 vs 17 – 19), testis (free in 10,11 vs sac present in 10,11) and intestine begin in segments (17, 18 vs 20). New species is differentiated from Perionyx pallidus Stephenson, 1917 by the extension of clitellum 12,13 – 17 vs 13 – 16), Ornamentation of penial setae (fine spine vs sculpturing) and position of gizzard. Further, genital markings present in new species and absent in both Perionyx alatus and Perionyx pallidus (Table 1).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFED76F0CEA0EA782822.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Amynthas aeruginosus Kinberg, 1867, by monotypy (Sims & Easton 1972).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFE376F0CDD6EF97292F.taxon	description	(Figs 3 & 4)	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFE376F0CDD6EF97292F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. 13 clitellates, Reg. No. ZSI-GNC-An 7943 / 2, Mirik (26.884805 ° N, 88.184171 ° E), Darjeeling District, West Bengal States, India; alt. 1664 m above mean sea level; 25 October 2009, leg. Rahul Paliwal; 5 clitellates, 1 aclitellate, Reg. no. ZSI-GNC-An- 8280 / 2, Mirik (26.888417 ° N, 88.183149 ° E), Darjeeling, West Bengal, India; alt. 1609 m above mean sea level; 15 August 2009; leg. Rahul Paliwal.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFE376F0CDD6EF97292F.taxon	description	Description. External. Small size, cylindrical, brownish preserved specimens. Length 18 – 30 mm, width 1 – 2 mm, segments 68 – 82. Prostomium small, epilobous (Fig. 3 A, B). Setae perichaetine, 52 – 56 on segment 5, 54 – 60 on segment 8, 42 – 46 at 12, 34 – 40 on segment 20. First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 12 / 13. Clitellum annular, reddish, on segments 14 – 16, dorsal pores absent, setae present on ventral side. Female pore single, midventral, in a small rounded, whitish porophore on segment 14 (Fig. 3 A, C). Spermathecal pores one pair, in intersegmental furrow 5 / 6, laterally, about at pq setal line, about 32 – 34 setae between (Fig. 3 B). Male pores superficial, on segment 18 at ef setal line in a small rounded, conical porophore, 7 – 9 setae between them (Fig. 3 A, C). Genital markings absent. Internal. Septa 5 / 6 – 7 / 8 and 10 / 11 – 12 / 13 slightly thickened, 8 / 9 and 9 / 10 absent. Gizzard single large in segments 8 and 9 (Fig. 4 A). Intestine begins in segment 15. Intestinal caeca simple, extending in segments 26 to 24, or some time bend toward ventral side in segment 25 (Fig. 4 A, C). Typhlosole well developed, simple, lamelliform. Nephridia meroic. Last pair of hearts in segment 13. Ovaries and funnels in segment 13. Spermathecae in segment 6, with elongated conical ampulla. Unidiverticulate, diverticulum reaching to the length of duct and ampulla (Fig. 4 B). Holandric, testis sac and funnels in 10, 11, seminal vesicles small, in segments 11 and 12, attached to the posterior of septa 10 / 11 and 11 / 12 (seminal vesicles of segment 11, merged with testis sac of respective segment). Prostate glands racemose, extends in segments 17 – 20, and duct long, curved. Genital marking glands absent (Fig. 4 C).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFE376F0CDD6EF97292F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India: Mirik, Darjeeling District, West Bengal State, India (present study). Elsewhere. Australia, Cote d’Ivoire, Hawaii, Java, Madagascar, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Swaziland (Gates 1961; Shen & Yeo 2005; Blakemore 2012).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF86FFE376F0CDD6EF97292F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The specimens of Amynthas minimus examined in the present study were collected from 1609 – 1664 m above mean sea level, the length recorded were range 18 – 30 mm, whereas Gates (1972) recorded lengths greater than 30 mm at elevations of 487.64 – 782 m above mean sea level. Similar to (Shen & Yeo 2005), genital markings were absent in present specimens, although markings were reported in some individuals (Gates, 1972). Well-developed prostates and spermathecae were seen in the present specimens (5 no. dissected), whereas Gates (1972) recorded polymorphism viz. athecal, monothecal, bithecal and mono-prostatic morphs. Prostate glands extend across segments 17 – 20 in the present specimens, compared to segments 16 – 21 (Gates, 1972), in segments 16 – 19 (Shen & Yeo 2005).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF88FFE076F0CC92EC222EC7.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Kerria halophila Beddard, 1892	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF8BFFE676F0CBBBEF7D2FC5.taxon	description	(Figs 5 & 6)	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF8BFFE676F0CBBBEF7D2FC5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. 8 clitellates, 11 aclitellates, Reg. No. ZSI-GNC-An 7944 / 2, Mirik (26.884805 ° N, 88.184171 ° E), Darjeeling District, West Bengal State, India; alt. 1664 m above mean sea level; 25 October 2009; leg. Rahul Paliwal.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF8BFFE676F0CBBBEF7D2FC5.taxon	description	Description. External. Small size, thin worms, length 30 – 64 mm, width 1 – 1.5 mm. Segments 95 – 141. Colour unpigmented preserved specimens, clitellum reddish. Setae lumbricine, closely paired. Setal formula aa = 3, ab = 1, bc = 3.5, cd = 1, dd = 8 (dd less than half circumference) at segment 10. Prostomium epilobous, tongue open (Fig. 5 A, B). Dorsal pores absent. Clitellum ½ 13 – 20 (= 7 ½), annular, weekly developed ventrally, reddish, ventral setae ab present, cd absent (Fig. 5 D). Female pores paired on segment 14, anterior to setae b. Spermathecal pores two pairs, in intersegmental furrow 7 / 8 / 9, at bc, close to c than b (Fig. 5 A, C). Male pores on segment 18, lateral to b in seminal grooves. Prostatic pores two pairs at the end seminal grooves on segments 17 and 19 (Fig. 5 D). Seminal grooves almost straight. Genital markings absent. Internal. Septa 5 / 6 – 11 / 12 thickened. Gizzard in segment 7. Intestine begin in segment 12. Calciferous glands pairs in segment 9, open into gut laterally (Fig. 6 A). Mega-nephridial, nephridia avesiculate. Last pair of hearts in segment 11. Ovaries and funnels in segment 13. Spermathecae two pairs in segments 8 and 9, adiverticulate, ampulla ovoid, duct longer than ampulla (Fig. 6 B). Testis and funnels in segment 10, testis free, funnels iridescent. Seminal vesicles in segment 11. Prostate glands tubular, extend back to segment 24, duct short muscular open in segments 17 and 19 (Fig. 6 C). Penial setae absent.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF8BFFE676F0CBBBEF7D2FC5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India: Mirik, Darjeeling District, West Bengal State, India (present study). Elsewhere. Widely distributed (Blakemore 2012).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
996F6F0DFF8BFFE676F0CBBBEF7D2FC5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Eukerria saltensis exhibits both biparental and parthenogenesis mode of reproduction, and selffertilization has also been reported (Gates 1972; Blakemore 2012). However, the specimens examined in the present study having iridescent testis funnels; well-developed spermathecae and prostate glands indicates biparental reproduction.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Julka, J. M. (2026): A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India. Zootaxa 5763 (3): 371-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5763.3.4
