Amynthas fleischmani, Hong & Inkhavilay & James, 2018

Hong, Yong, Inkhavilay, Khamla & James, Samuel W., 2018, Nine new species of the " aeruginosus " - group in Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Nam Et-Phouley National protected Area, Laos, Zootaxa 4496 (1), pp. 238-250 : 246-247

Amynthas fleischmani sp. nov.

( Figure 3A,B )

Material. Holotype: clitellate ( BDNUL0047 ): Laos, Hoaphane Province , Nam Et-Phouley NPA, Viengthong district, Thad Ang waterfall area, 792 m (20o 15. 446' N, 103o 08– 921' E), good condition mossy forest with big trees, dark soil and thick litter layer, 21 July 2005, Phimphet, Xay, Ammaline, Phoang sone, and K. Inkhavilay colls . Paratypes: 2 clitellates ( BDNUL0048 , BDNUL0049 ), same data as for holotype . Other material: 21 clitellates, 1 semiclitellate, 1 aclitellate, same data as for holotype. Aclitellate : Laos, Hoaphane Province , Nam Et- Phouley NPA, Viengthong district, Hoauy Kanang Mountain, 1075m (20o15.572'N, 103o09–629'E), good forest condition in dark soil, 22 July 2005, Phimphet, Xay, Ammaline, Phoang sone, and K. Inkhavilay colls.

Etymology. The species is named after Daren Fleischman of Fairfield, Iowa, USA.

Diagnosis. Secondary male pores near lateral margins of ventrum in XVIII at 7th setal lines, 0.24 circumference apart ventrally, transverse sphincter-like slit; primary male pore on slender cylindrical penis within shallow parietal invagination; paired conical genital papillae within equatorial invaginations on XVII, XIX; paired circular papillae within invaginations on 17/18, 18/19, all just medial to level of secondary male pores; spermathecal pores paired in 7/8/9 at 9th setal lines, pores large with internal grooves, 0.28–0.32 circumference apart ventrally; first dorsal pore in 5/6; muscular prostatic ducts irregularly coiled.

Description. Dimensions 58–95mm, by 3.3–3.7 mm at segment X, 2.9–3.5 mm at segment XXX, 3.3–3.9 mm at clitellum; body cylindrical, segments 78–101. Setae evenly spaced, numbering 37–38 at VII, 30–35 at XX, 3–9 between secondary male pores (openings of copulatory pouches), setal formula AA:AB:ZZ:YZ= 3:2:4:2 at XIII. Female pore single in XIV, on a circular porophore 0.2–0.3 mm in diameter. Prostomium epilobic with tongue open, clitellum light brown, anterior dorsum light brown, post-clitellum setal rings lighter, formalin preservation. First dorsal pore at 5/6. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI, setae invisible externally. Secondary male pores near lateral margins of ventrum in XVIII at 7th setal lines, 0.24 circumference apart ventrally, transverse sphincter-like slit; primary male pores on slender cylindrical penis within shallow parietal invagination. Paired conical genital papillae within equatorial invaginations on XVII, XIX; paired circular papillae within invaginations on 17/18, 18/ 19, all just medial to level of secondary male pores. Spermathecal pores paired in 7/8/9 at 8th setal lines, pores large with internal grooves, 0.28–0.32 circumference apart ventrally. A single genital marking in 10/ 11 in the Hoauy Kanang individual.

Septa 5/6/7 thick, 7/8 thin, 8/9/10 absent, 10/11–13/14 thin. Gizzard large globular in VIII–X. Intestine enlarged from XV, lymph glands not found. Typhlosole low fold to vestigial from XXVII. Intestinal caeca originating in XXVII extending anteriorly about to XXIV, simple elongate triangle. Hearts esophageal X–XIII. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally joined sacs in X, XI. Seminal vesicles paired, welldeveloped in XI, XII; with small round apical dorsal lobes on pair of XII. Prostates in XVIII, extending from XVII–XXI; stout muscular ducts irregularly coiled; glandular portions consisted of 2 main lobes, each divided into 4–6 lobes. Genital papilla glands dense sessile masses, corresponding to circular papillae of 17/18, 18/19; no glands for conical papillae in XVII and XIX. Ovaries in XIII. Spermathecae two pairs in VII, IX; ampulla cordate, muscular ducts shorter than ampulla, iridescent seminal chamber ovate, with slender stalk shorter than ampulla; stalk joins duct near ampulla base, no nephridia on ducts.

Remarks. Noting that the male pores of this and the next species are in shallow parietal invaginations we need to explain why we do not place the species in Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972 . It is simply because all other characters agree closely with other species unequivocally assignable to Amynthas , and to the aeruginosus group within that genus. Laotian species we report here share a number of apomorphic character states as noted in remarks above and below. Placement in Metaphire would certainly render that genus polyphyletic and Amynthas paraphyletic. This species is in the aeruginosus -group Laotian section generally characterized by long prostatic ducts often in mirror-image coils, first dorsal pores in 5/6 or nearby, and lack of pre-clitellar genital markings. However the immature individual from Hoauy Kanang has a single pre-clitellar genital marking with an associated stalked gland, calling into question the generality of that character within the section. That worm also had slightly more setae per segment and the spermathecae were in VIII and IX, but is otherwise the same except for immaturity. Within this section of the aeruginosus -group, A. fleischmani sp. nov. is the only one known to have invaginated male pores and four pairs of invaginated genital papillae in the following locations: equatorial XVII, 17/18, 18/19, equatorial XIX. The papillae are of two types: conical without associated glandular tissue, and circular with associated sessile glands. The closest other species known is A. antethecus sp. nov. from the same location as the majority of the specimens of A. fleischmani sp. nov. It differs by lacking the conical equatorial papillae, the intersegmental papillae are not invaginated on the fully clitellate specimens, there are more setae per segment, the spermathecae are in VII and VIII, the prostatic ducts are in a single loop rather than coiled, and the male pores are more widely spaced.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Amynthas fleischmani sp. nov. (A,B), Amynthas antethecus sp. nov. (C,D), and Amynthas elenabondae sp. nov. (E,F). A,C,E: ventral view; B,D,F: spermatheca. Scale bars 2 mm.