taxonID	type	description	language	source
0B66879F9174051BBCF7D3596665FE01.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Typhoeus orientalis Beddard, 1883	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051BBCF7D3596665FE01.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	description	http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 825 A 4379 - 2 F 56 - 435 E-AEA 3 - 2 C 6 BF 59 D 2 EC 1 (Figs 1 – 2)	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype: Clitellate (ZSI – GNC – An 8034 / 2), Khowai (24.063905 ° N; 91.600703 ° E), Khowai district, Tripura, India; 52 m above mean sea level; 26 October 1999 (date here is based on the deposition of specimens in the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, whereas specimens were collected during monsoon season); leg. P. S. Chaudhuri. Paratypes: 5 clitellates (ZSI – GNC – An 8035 / 2), collection details same as for as the holotype.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific name “ unithecus ” is derived from the Latin words “ uni ” meaning one or single, and “ thecae ” mean spermathecae which appropriately describes the single spermatheca.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Length 86 – 132 mm, width 3 – 4 mm, segments 184 – 243. Colour brownish (preserved specimens). Segment 5 bi-annulate, further 6 – 12 tri-annulate. Prostomium tanylobous. Setae lumbricine. First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 11 / 12. Male pores open into a small, oval porophore, median to a setal line, penes absent. Spermathecal pore single, midventral in intersegmental furrow 7 / 8. Female pores paired, presetal at or slight median to a setal line. Genital markings, unpaired, disc shaped, post-setal, mid ventral on segments 12 (lateral to bb), 13 (bb) and 16 (with in aa), sometime post setal on segments 14 and 15. Typhlosole simple, lamelliform begin in segment 26 ending with the beginning of supra-intestinal glands. Lateral typhlosole, low ridges in segments 27 and 28. Spermatheca with bilobed irregular or dumbbell shaped ampulla, with 2 – 3 digitiform diverticulum (two lateral and sometime one median). Supra-intestinal glands 4 – 5 pairs in segments 76, 84 – 80, 87. Ventral and median intestinal ceaca 4 in segments 31 – 37. Seminal vesicles in segment 12 extending to segments 13, 14. Prostates tubular, extending from segment 17 to 18 with long wavy duct. Penial setae 4 – 6 in each battery, length 1.5 – 2 mm, tip slightly curved and pointed, ornamented with triangular teeth. Genital markings glands sessile in segments 12, 13, sometime 14.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	description	Description. External: Medium size worm, colour brownish (preserved specimens). Dimensions: Holotype: length 122 mm, width 4 mm at clitellum, segments 243; paratypes: length 86 – 132 mm, width 3 – 4 mm, segments 184 – 232. Body cylindrical, segment 5 bi-annulate, 6 – 12 tri-annulate. Prostomium tanylobous (Fig. 1 A, C). First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 11 / 12. Setae lumbricine, present from segment 2, aa: ab: bc: cd: dd = 1.9: 1.2: 2: 1.3: 7 at 5; aa: ab: bc: cd: dd = 1.6: 1.2: 3: 1.6: 8 at 8; aa: ab: bc: cd: dd = 2: 1: 2: 1.5: 8 at 20. Clitellum annular, on segments ½ 13 – 17, setae present and dorsal pores (visible in 13 / 14). Spermathecal pore single, midventral in intersegmental furrow 7 / 8 between to aa setal line (Fig. 1 B, D). Avestibulate, male pores median to a open in to a small rounded porophore in segment 17, penes absent (Fig. 1 B). Female pores paired, pre-setal, slight median to a setal lines. Genital markings unpaired, disc shaped, median, post-setal on segments 12 (lateral to bb), 13 (bb), 16 (aa), slight developed post setal on segment 14 and 15 median to aa (Fig. 1 B). Penial setae projecting from the male genital region. Internal: Septa 4 / 5 – 5 / 6 and 9 / 10 – 11 / 12 strongly thickened, 8 / 9 thickened, 6 / 7 and 7 / 8 absent. Gizzard single, large, in space between septa 5 / 6 and 8 / 9; intestine begin in segment 15 (Fig. 2 A, E); typhlosole simple, lamelliform begin in segment 26 ending posteriorly in segment 84 with the beginning of supra-intestinal glands; lateral typhlosole, low ridges in segments 27 and 28. Calciferous glands, paired, intramural in segment 12 (Fig. 2 E). Lateral intestinal caeca absent, median ventral intestinal caeca 4 in segments 34 – 37. Supra-intestinal glands 4 pairs in segments 84 – 87. Nephridia, meroic; enteronephric tuft nephridia in segment 3, numerous exonephric micro-nephridia on parities in segment 5 and posterior segments arranged in transverse rows from segment 18; paired exonephric megameronephridia in each segment posterior to the supra-intestinal glands. Dorsal vessel complete extending to segment 3, with heart in segment 5 and 6; last pairs of heart in segment 13. Metandric, testes and funnels in segment 11, funnels absent in segment 10. Seminal vesicles in segment 12 extending to segment 13 (Fig. 2 A). Ovaries and funnels in segment 13, ovaries fan shaped attached on the posterior face septa 12 / 13. The Vas deferens enlarged before passing into the parietes just behind the prostatic duct (Fig. 2 A). Prostates tubular, extending from segment 17 to 18, with long wavy duct. Spermatheca single in segment 8, ampulla large, bilobed, with short duct. Bi-diverticulate, digitiform, ental diverticulum, on lateral sides of the duct (Fig. 2 A, B, F). Penial setae 6 per battery, length 1.5 – 2 mm, 24 – 26 µm width, tip spoon shaped and pointed, ornamented with triangular teeth (Fig. 2 C, D). Genital markings glands sessile, associated with genital markings of segments 12, 13 and 14. Variations. Genital markings on segments 13, 14, and 16 are well-developed, whereas the markings on segments 14 and 15 exhibit a slightly whitish color (4 paratypes). Most of the dissected specimens bear one pair of the ental diverticulum, whereas one dissected paratype has three diverticulums. Sometimes the ampulla is constricted by the ventral cord, which forms dumbbell-shaped or irregular two lobes.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India: Tripura State: Khowai District: Khowai.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9174051CBCF7D38166CBFEC9.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The proposed species Eutyphoeus unithecus Ahmed & Marimuthu, sp. nov. differs from its congeners in terms of the number of spermathecae, spermathecal pore position and male pore position. All known species of Eutyphoeus have one pair of spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrow 7 / 8 and one pair of spermathecae, whereas the new species has a single spermathecal pore at the midventral line between aa and with a single associated spermatheca. Principal component analysis (Fig. 3 A) of species coming under the genus, Eutyphoeus showed that there is a strong variability (PC 1: 29.5 % variance) between the species based on the observed taxonomical characters and the most influenced taxonomical characters observed were genital markings. There was also a variability (PC 2: 14.2 % variance) between the species and the influenced taxonomical characters observed were the number of spermathecae followed by the position of spermathecal pore and male pore. It was also observed that the proposed species became an outlier (distinguished) from all the species of the similar genus due to the distinct taxonomical characters such as spermathecae pores and male pore position followed by the number of spermathecae. Corresponding to the single spermathecal pore, the male openings are very close together in the proposed species. Based on these characteristics, CAP analysis used male pores position and number of spermathecae as factors to distinguish the proposed one from the other described species (Fig. 3 B, C).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9170051FBCF7D2E964B5FEB2.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Priodoscolex montanus Gates, 1940	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F9170051FBCF7D2E964B5FEB2.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	description	http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 2 F 7495 D 8 - B 95 E- 4 F 48 - B 796 - 54 C 989 FB 3065 (Figs 4 – 5)	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype. Clitellate (ZSI – GNC – An 8036 / 2), Madurai (9.923514 ° N, 78.108583 ° E), Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India; 133 m above mean sea level; 8 November 2004; leg. C. K. Mandal and S. Dhani. Paratypes. 14 clitellates, 2 aclitellates and 16 tail parts (ZSI – GNC – An 8037 / 2), collection details as same as holotype. Other material. 5 aclitellates (ZSI – GNC – An 3038 / 2), Yercaud (11.774038 ° N, 78.216717 ° E) (habitat coffee plantation), Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India; 1438 m above mean sea level; 30 November 2004; leg. A. Mishra and party. 1 aclitellate (ZSI – GNC – An 3039 / 2) Nagalur village (11.796355 ° N, 78.216404 ° E), Yercaud, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India; 1412 m above mean sea level; 30 November 2004; leg. A. Mishra and party.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species epithet “ maduraiensis ” is derived from the name of the city, Madurai where the specimens have been collected. The rationale behind the species’ name is the history of the city, Madurai had been recorded by the Greek envoy, Megasthenes as early as the third century BCE (Zvelebil 1992).	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Large sized; length 92 – 280 mm; width 3 – 6 mm, number of segments 211 – 389. Segment 7 biannulate, 8 – 12 with light annuli (two anterior and two posteriors of setal arc and one with setal arc). Colour, light brownish with reddish clitellum (preserved specimens). Prostomium prolobous. First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 10 / 11. Setae perichaetine; on the pre-clitellar region there is no dorsal or ventral setal break, post clitellum dorsal zz = 2 – 2.5 yz; except segment 18, the ventral most setae on segments 12 – 21 some time on segment 11 and 22 displaced anterior and posterior to the setal line; ventral most setae on segment 18 absent. Clitellum prominent, reddish colour, saddle shaped on segments 13 – 18, dorsal pores absent, 5 – 6 setae on each side visible ventral part of clitellum. Female pores paired in a small bulge oval area on segment 14 anterior to setal arc. Male pores closely paired on segment 18, no setae between male pores. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs, closely paired about the level of ab setal line, in segments 7,8 and 9, just posterior to the intersegmental furrow 6 / 7 / 8 / 9. Genital markings absent, except light bulging of ventral area on segments, 14,15,16, at the place of displaced setae. Typhlosole begin in segments 26 – 28. Spermathecae, three pairs in segments 7,8, and 9 sometime anterior diverted in segments 6, 7, and 8; ampulla club shaped with digitiform ectal diverticulum. Calciferous glands 4 pairs in segments 14, 15, 16, and 17, the glands in segments 15 – 17 are bilobed, whereas glands of segment 14 are small and single lobe. Penial setae absent.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	description	Description. External: Colour light brownish with reddish clitellum (preserved specimen). Dimensions: Holotype: length 275 mm; width 5 mm at segment 8, 4.7 at clitellum and 4.2 at segment 20; number of segments 308; paratypes: length 92 – 280 mm, width 3 – 6 mm, segment 211 – 389; other material: length 97 – 208 mm, width 3 – 3.5 mm, segments 316 – 376. Prostomium prolobous (Fig. 4 C). First dorsal pore in intersegmental furrow 10 / 11. Setae Perichaetine, 32 on segment 2, 74 on segment 6, 86 on segment 12, 96 on segment 19. On the pre-clitellar region there is no dorsal or ventral setal break, post clitellum dorsal zz = 2 yz. Further, the ventral setae on segments 11 – 20, except segment 18 displaced anterior and posterior to the setal line. Ventral most setae on segment 18 absent. Clitellum prominent, reddish colour, saddle shaped on segments 13 – 18, dorsal pores absent, 5 – 6 setae on each side visible ventral on the clitellum thickening (Fig. 4 A, B, D). Female pores paired, pre-setal on segment 14, nearly equi-distance between 13 / 14 and setal arc of segment 14. Male pores closely paired on segment 18, no setae between male pores, seminal grooves absent (Fig. 4 B, D). Spermathecal pores 3 pairs, closely paired at ab, in segments 7,8 and 9, just posterior to the intersegmental furrow 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 (Fig. 4 B). Genital markings absent, except epithelium bulging at ventral areas on segments, 14,15,16 and 17, at place of displaced setae. Penial setae absent. Internal: Septa 6 / 7 – 11 / 12 strongly thickened, septa 5 / 6 and 12 / 13 thickened. Gizzard large cylindrical in segment 5. Intestine begin in segment 19. Typhlosole simple, lamelliform, begin in segment 28 ending in segment 204. Calciferous gland extramural, 4 pairs in segments 14 – 17 (Fig. 5 A, C). The calciferous glands of segment 14 are small in seize each with a single lobe, whereas, the glands of segments 15,16,17 are bilobed and well developed communicating dorsally, open into the intestine laterally. Nephridia meroic. Large cluster of enteronephric paired tufts in segments 4 and 5; exonephric paired tufts in segments 3 and 6 – 13 located at the anterior side of septa 3 / 4 and 6 / 7 – 13 / 14, open ventrally through long duct; several exonephric nephridia on the body wall of segment 14 to the last segment. Megameronephridia absent. Last pair of hearts in segment 12. Dorsal blood vessel complete, extend to the segment 3. Subneural trunk present, turning lateral in segment 15, join the latero-parietal vessel in segment 13. At segment 14 the subneural vessel branched, leave two branches on parities of segments 15 and 16 and one branch diminish posterior in segment 17. Ovaries and funnels in segment 13, ovaries grapes like, attached with posterior face of septa 12 / 13. Holandric, testis (testes free) and funnels in segments 10 and 11 (Fig. 5 A). Seminal vesicles in segments 11 and 12 (5 A, C). Prostates tubulo-racemose, flattened, extend in segments 18 – 20; duct c shaped, curved, about 3 mm long; vas deferens join the prostatic duct ectally in segment 18 (Fig. 5 C). Spermathecae unidiverticulate, anterior directed in segments 6,7 and 8; spermathecal duct short, ampulla sacular, nearly club-shaped; digitiform, ectal diverticulum, about 2 / 3 length of duct and ampulla (Fig. 5 A, B). Penial setae absent.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	distribution	Distribution. India: Tamil Nadu State: Madurai District: Madurai; Salam District: Nagalur.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
0B66879F91700510BCF7D311619EFE01.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The new species is differentiated (Table 1) from the known species Priodoscolex montanus Gates, 1940 by the number of spermathecal pores (3 pairs vs 2 pairs), origin of typhlosole 26 – 28 vs 27 – 31. Extension of clitellum 13 – 18 vs 13 – 19. Posterior dorsal break vs anterior dorsal and ventral setal break.	en	Ahmed, Shakoor, Banerjee, Dhriti, Marimuthu, Nithyanandam (2025): Two new earthworm species of the genera Eutyphoeus Michaelsen, 1900 and Priodoscolex Gates, 1940 (Crassiclitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from India. Zootaxa 5609 (2): 236-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5609.2.5
