Drawida dandongensis, Zhang & Sun, 2014

Zhang, Yu-Feng & Sun, Zhen-Jun, 2014, A new earthworm species of the genus Drawida Michaelsen (Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from China, Zoological Systematics 39 (3), pp. 442-444 : 443-444

Drawida dandongensis sp. nov. ( Figs 1–2 )

Etymology. The specific name of the new species refers to its type locality at Dandong.

Type material. Holotype a mature specimen (dissected), coll. Yu-Feng Zhang, Qian Sun (coll. No. 2009C-DD-005). Paratypes four mature specimens (coll. Nos. 2009C-DD-006, 2009C-DD-007, 2009C-DD-008, 2009C-DD-009). Both holotype and paratypes were collected from Mt. Maokui (40°08 ′ N, 124°22 ′ E; elev. 60–150 m), Dandong , Liaoning, China, 10 August 2009. The specimens were preserved in 10% formalin solution, deposited in Department of Ecology , College of Resource and Environment Sciences, China Agriculture University ( CAU) .

Other materials. Approximately 15 individuals, collected from 10 to 12 August 2009 at the same locality, preserved in 95% ethanol, CAU.

Description. Body dorsally dark green and shining with blue color. Clitellum X–XIV. Spermathecal pores were one pair in 7/8 ventrally intersegmental furrow. Male pores were one pair in 10/11 intersegmental furrow, between setae b and c, each on the center of a large, latitudinous orientated, flat elliptical whitish glandular membrane patch.

External characters. Body smooth and large, dorsal surface dark green, shining with blue color, slightly sharp at head and blunt at the caudal part. Dimensions 80–164 mm by 3.5–4.2 mm at segment X, segment number 147–198, without annulets. Prostomium prolobous. Clitellum X–XIV, 4.2–5.9 mm wide, wider then other segments. Dorsal pores absent. Setae (4 pairs) are hardly visible before clitellum, black dots after clitellum.

Spermathecal pore. One pair in 7/8 ventrally intersegmental furrow，each on the center of a latitudinous orientated depression.

Male pore. One pair in 10/11 intersegmental furrow, between setae b and c, greatly swollen, each on the center of a large, latitudinous orientated, flat elliptical whitish glandular membrane patch.

© Zoological Systematics, 39(3): 442–444

Female pore inconspicuous. Genital papillae present on VI–XI, sometimes absent, the arrangement seems to be irregular ( Fig. 1 ).

Internal characters. Septa 5/6 – 8/9 comparatively thickened, muscular. Gizzards 4 in XII–XVII segments, 9 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, same size, generally shining on the surface with whitish vertical fibres. Oesophageal hearts 4 pairs, same size each pair, greatly thickened, black in VI–IX.

Spermathecae one pair in VIII, spermathecal ampulla fairly large, heart–shaped, yellowish, about 3 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, narrowly attached to the septum 7/8 with connective tissue; from its lower side a duct arising and beginning to make a number of great coils, about 15 mm in total length, without atrial dilation ( Fig. 2 ).

Testis sac. One pair, about 6 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, yellowish, each suspended in middle part of septum 9/10. Ovarian chambers are in XI–XII, about 3 mm long, palm shaped.

Remarks. The new species is somewhat similar to Drawida nemora Kobayashi, 1936, which is distributed in China and North Korea. They share similar characters of spermathecal pore and spermathecal ampulla. However, the new species is distinguished from D. nemora by having the spermathecal pore in 7/ 8 intersegmental furrow, while spermathecal pore of D. nemora is found on the posterior edge of VIII. Besides that, the spermathecal duct of D. dandongensis sp. nov. is longer and has more twists than D. nemora. Furthermore, the new species has the dorsal surface dark green and shining with blue color, which is distinguished from D. nemora in which it is dark bluish.

Acknowledgements We would like to express our appreciation to Qin Xu (Beijing Educational College), Qian Sun, Dong-Hui Zhang, Hui Xiong, Lan Yao and Yu-Peng Wu ( China Agriculture University), whom take part in our field work and help to collect earthworms.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Drawida dandongensis sp. nov. 1. Ventral view. 2. Spermathecae. sp. Spermathecal pore. mp. Male pore. gp. Genital papillae. sep. Septa. Scale bar=1mm.