Amynthas elenabondae, 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 : 249-250

Amynthas elenabondae sp. nov.

( Figure 3E,F )

Material. Holotype: clitellate ( BDNUL0053 ): 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: 1 late juvenile semiclitellate ( BDNUL0054 ), same data as for holotype .

Etymology. The species is named for Elena Bond, an English performance poet a bit obsessed with earthworms.

Diagnosis. Secondary male pores near lateral margins of ventrum in XVIII at 7th setal lines, 0.19 circumference apart ventrally, crescent openings convex medially; primary male pore on tubercle on lateral wall of shallow parietal invagination; spermathecal pores paired in 7/8/9 at 11th setal lines, pores large, passing under trailing edges of VII, VIII, 0.30 circumference apart ventrally; first dorsal pore in 4/5.

Description. Dimensions 40–44mm, by 2.6–2.9 mm at segment X, 2–2.9 mm at segment XXX, 2–2.6 mm at clitellum; body flattened, segments 63, 69. Setae evenly spaced around segments, numbering 42, 46 at VII; 32, 40 at XX; 7, 10 between male pores, setal formula AA:AB:ZZ:YZ= 2:1.5:2:2 at XIII. Female pore single in XIV, on an oval porophore 0.3 mm in diameter. Prostomium epilobic with tongue open, clitellum light brown, dorsal brown pigment, formalin preservation. First dorsal pore at 4/5. Clitellum annular XIV–XVI, setae invisible externally. Secondary male pores near lateral margins of ventrum in XVIII at 7th setal lines, 0.19 circumference apart ventrally, crescent openings convex medially; primary male pore on tubercle on lateral wall of shallow parietal invagination; spermathecal pores paired in 7/8/9 at 11th setal lines, pores large, passing under trailing edges of VII, VIII; 0.30 circumference apart ventrally.

Septa 5/6/7 thin, 7/8 muscular, 8/9/10 absent 10/11/12 /13/14 thin. Gizzard globular in VIII–X. Intestine enlarged from XV, lymph glands not found. Typhlosole vestigial from XXVII. Intestinal caeca originating in XXVII extending anteriorly about to XXIII, simple digitate. Hearts esophageal X–XIII. Male sexual system holandric, testes and funnels in ventrally joined sacs in X, XI. Seminal vesicles paired, well-developed in XI, XII; dorsal lobes lacking. Prostates in XVIII, extending from XVII–XIX; short muscular ducts bent in one hairpin loop; glandular portions consisted of 3–5 small lobes. Ovaries in XIII. Spermathecae paired in VII, VIII; ampulla irregular, muscular ducts shorter than ampulla, iridescent seminal chamber ovate, with slender stalk shorter than ampulla; no nephridia on ducts.

Remarks. This species is in the aeruginosus -group 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. Amynthas elenabondae sp. nov. is a small species lacking genital papillae, with non-coiled prostatic ducts, and spermathecae in VII and VIII. In some respects it is similar to A. antethecus sp. nov. but lacks the genital papillae and penes, and is much smaller.

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.