Amynthas fusing, Wang & Shih, 2017

Wang, Yu-Hsi & Shih, Hsi-Te, 2017, Figs. 17 - 21. 17 - 20 in Taxonomic Review of Zavreliella Kieffer from East Asia, Zoological Studies 56 (18), pp. 1-12 : 4-6

Amynthas fusing n. sp.

( Fig. 2 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:08420304-0D0B-42B4-A624-267D33B7AB70

Material examined: Holotype: 1 clitellate (NCHUZOOL 13542), beside road no. 119, Fusing , Taoyuan, Taiwan, 24°50'07.4"N, 121°23'33.0"E, 736 m, 7 September 2010, collected by Y.-H. Wang and G.-C. Guo. Paratypes: 9 clitellates (NCHUZOOL 13543) same collection data as for holotype.

Others: 1 clitellate (NCHUZOOL 13544), Ronghua, Fusing, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 24°44'26.8"N, 121°20'35.8"E, 493 m, 7 September 2010, collected by Y.-H. Wang and G.-C. Guo; 9 clitellates (NCHUZOOL 13545), beside road no. 119, Fusing, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 24°49'40.9"N, 121°22'50.4"E, 704 m, 7 September 2010, collected by Y.-H. Wang and G.-C. Guo; 8 clitellates (NCHUZOOL 13546), beside road no. 119, Fusing, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 24°48'41.9"N, 121°21'43.0"E, 704 m, 7 September 2010, collected by Y.-H. Wang and G.-C. Guo.

Etymology: This species is named for its type locality, Fusing Township, Taoyuan, Taiwan. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Size 226.0- 308.5 mm. Segments 112-143. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators; 13-18 setae between male pores. Prostomium, epolibic. First dorsal pore at 12/13. Clitellum annular, xiv-xvi, smooth. Female pore single on xiv. Male pores on xviii with many wrinkled edges, with a large C-shaped genital marking close to each pore on xviii. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs laterally at 6/7-8/9, with genital markings present on vi, vii, and viii close to each pore. Spermathecae three pairs in vii-ix. Seminal vesicles large in xi and xii. Prostates large in xvii-xviii, ducts thick, muscular; without copulatory pouch.

Description: External: Dimensions 226.0- 308.5 mm by 8.9-10.1 mm in x, 7.4-8.6 mm in xxx, 8.4-11.2 mm in clitellum; body cylindrical throughout, segments 112-143. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators; 13-18 setae between male pores; setal formula AA: AB: YZ: YZ = 2: 1: 1: 1.8 on xxv. Prostomium, epolibic. First dorsal pore at 12/13. Clitellum annular, xiv-xvi, smooth. Female pore single on xiv. Male pores on xviii ( Fig. 2A ).

Male pores enlarged, with many wrinkled edges on xviii ( Fig. 2A ), with a large C-shaped genital marking close to each pore on xviii. Spermathecal pores 3 pairs laterally at 6/7-8/9, with genital markings present on vi, vii, and viii close to each pore, each pore with light swollen edge between segments ( Fig. 2B ).

Septa, 5/6-7/8 thick, 8/9/10 absent, 10/11- 13/14 thick, 14/15/16 thin; gizzard in x. Intestinal origin from xiv; lymph glands from xvi; typhlosole simple from xviii, extending forward as small ridge to xiv. Intestinal caeca simple, smooth margin, originating in xvii, extending anteriorly to xxiii, with links to dorsal vessel ( Fig. 2E ). Heart in xiii.

Male sexual system holandric, testes connected at ventral side, funnels ventrally joined to sacs in x and xi. Seminal vesicles large in xi and xii, with large dorsal lobe. Prostates large in xviii, extending to xvii and xx, with 3 main lobes, ducts thick, muscular; without copulatory pouch; joining vasa deferentia distal to glandular portion; vasa deferentia non-muscular ( Fig. 2D ).

Ovaries in xiii. Spermathecae paired in vii-ix, ampulla large, heart-shaped in vii-ix; diverticulum axis longer than ampulla axis, stalk thicker at ental portion, part of stalk and remainder of diverticulum coiled into closely compacted spherical mass; with accessory glands close to spermathecae in vi, vii, and viii ( Fig. 2C ).

Ecology and behavior: The vegetation of the habitat of this species is dense. The earthworm was found to spread out coelomic fluid from the dorsal pores and anus after being stimulated, a behavior similar to Amynthas lioujia n. sp. (see below). This behavior was also recorded for other species, including Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826) , Didymogaster sylvaticus Fletcher, 1886 , Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) and Megascolides australis McCoy, 1878 ( Ressler et al. 1968; Edwards and Bohlen 1996; Płytycz et al. 2006).

Remarks: Amynthas fusing n. sp. is similar to A. binoculatus Tsai, Shen and Tsai, 1999 , A. lioujia n. sp., A. majia n. sp., and A. sexpectatus Tsai, Shen and Tsai, 1999 , but with some different characters. Amynthas binoculatus has a pair of large disk-like genital markings on viii and 3 large genital markings close to the male pore ( Tsai et al. 1999: fig. 4A). Amynthas sexpectatus has a variable shape and number of genital markings with male pores ( Tsai et al. 1999: fig. 3A-C). Amynthas lioujia has genital markings on viii and 2 large round genital markings close to the male pore ( Fig. 3A ); A. majia has a large V-shaped genital marking close to the male pore ( Fig. 4A ). Amynthas fusing lacks genital markings on viii, and has a large C-shaped genital marking close to the male pore ( Fig. 2A ). A comparison of characters is given in table 1.

Figures

Fig. 2. Amynthas fusing n. sp. holotype, NCHUZOOL 13542: (A) ventral view of male pores with large C-shaped genital markings on xviii; (B) left lateral view of spermathecal pores at intersegmental furrows with genital markings; (C) right spermathecae and accessory glands; (D) right prostate; (E) right intestinal caeca with vasa. ag, accessory gland; amp, ampulla; dv, diverticulum; fp, female pore; gm, genital marking; mp, male pore; sp, spermathecal pore. All scale bars =1 mm.

Fig. 3. Amynthas lioujia n. sp. holotype, NCHUZOOL 13547: (A) ventral view of male pores with two large genital markings on xviii; (B) lateral views of left spermathecal pores from two specimens (left, NCHUZOOL 13547; right, NCHUZOOL 13547 (no. 4)); (C) right spermathecae and accessory glands; (D) right prostate; (E) right intestinal caeca. ag, accessory gland; amp, ampulla; dv, diverticulum; fp, female pore; gm, genital marking; mp, male pore; sp, spermathecal pore. All scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Amynthas majia n. sp. holotype, NCHUZOOL 13548: (A) ventral view of male pores with large V-shaped genital markings on xviii; (B) left spermathecae; (C) left prostate; (D) right intestinal caeca. ag, accessory gland; amp, ampulla; dv, diverticulum; fp, female pore; gm, genital marking; mp, male pore; sp, spermathecal pore. All scale bars = 1 mm.