Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) bora, M, Alexander Feijoo & Celis, Liliana V., 2012

M, Alexander Feijoo & Celis, Liliana V., 2012, New species of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae) in the Amazon region of Colombia, Zootaxa 3458, pp. 103-119 : 110-113

Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) bora sp. nov.

( Figs 8 A,B, 9A,B, 10A,B,C)

Material examined. Holotype: Clitellate specimen (CN-0017). Locality: Municipality of Belem de los Andaquíes, rural community of Agua Dulce (01°20’10.1”N, 75°48’44.6”W), altitude: 280 m above sea level. Collection date: 23 June 2008. Collectors: A. Feijoo, L. Celis. Paratypes: 6 adults (CN-0018), 7 subadults, 1 juvenil. Locality: Municipality of Morelia, rural community of San Jorge (01°27’51.9”N, 75°40’12.8”W), altitude: 272 m above sea level (3 adults, 12 juveniles). Collection date: 24 June 2008. Locality: Municipality of Belén de Los Andaquíes, rural community of Agua Dulce (01°20’56.1”N, 75°49’14.6”W), altitudes: 273 and 294 m above sea level (7 adults, 5 juveniles). Collection date: 25 June 2008. Locality: Municipality of Florencia, rural community of Germania (01°23’24.7”N, 75°32’31.1”W), altitudes: 284 and 264 m above sea level (4 adults, juveniles). Collection date: 19 June 2008. Locality: Municipality of Florencia, rural community of San José Canelos (01°29’55.5”N, 75° 31’50.4”W), altitude: 279 m above sea level (1 adult). Collection date: 22 June 2008. Locality: Municipality of Florencia, rural community of San Juan del Barro (01°32’34.1”N, 75° 35’54.9”W), altitude: 273 m above sea level (2 juveniles). Collection date: 21 June 2008. Locality: Municipality of Florencia, rural community of Alto Canelos (01°27’03.1”N, 75° 31’47.1”W), altitude: 294 m above sea level (1 adult, 1 juvenil). Collection date: 20 June 2008. Collectors: A. Feijoo, L. Celis.

Etymology. The new species was named in recognition of and homage to the Boras indigenous people who live in the department of Caquetá, Colombia. Noun in apposition.

Description. Endogeic species, with absence of pigmentation, white clitellum in conserved samples, and cylindrical body. The length of the conserved holotype is 69.5 mm, with 195 segments. Its diameter is 2.3 mm in the preclitellar region (segment 8), 3.2 mm in the clitellum, and 1.8 mm in the mid-posterior region. Paratype: 52 mm long and 2.9 mm wide. The number of segments is 170. The prostomium is small, whitish in color, and tongueshaped, measuring 0.3 mm. The whitish saddle-shaped clitellum is located in segments ½15–½ 23 (=8 segments). The tubercula pubertatis are located between segments ½19 and ½22 ( Fig. 8 ). In three individuals, the setae abcd are visible from segment 2. Eight rows of setae are closely coupled up to segment 15, after which they are widely coupled up to segment 30, where d is arranged in quincunx, while a and b assume this arrangement in segment 40. In the case of c, it conserves a regular position up to segment 113, after which it alternates in quincunx. The distance between setae in the mid-body region (segments 30–40) is aa:ab:bc:cd:dd = 2:1:2.3:1.8:12.5. The distance between setae dd changes in segment 13 to form a quincunx arrangement. The normal setae ( Fig. 9 A) are shaped like an elongated rhombus and present several fine markings in the distal region. The genital setae ( Fig. 9 B) present two curvatures in the proximal and distal region, with a thick base, increasing its size up to 2/3 with a triangular shape, which then vanishes to end as a hook-shaped apex. Their length is 0.92–0.98 mm. The male pores are located in segment 18/19 and female pores in segment 13. The nephropores are aligned with setae c and d. Three pairs of spermathecal pores were observed on intersegments 6/7, 7/8, 8/ 9 in line with seta c.

Internal anatomy. The anterior septa 6/7–9/10 are thick, muscular, and conical. The round muscular gizzard and thick musculature are found in the cavity of segment 6. Three pairs of small extramural calciferous glands in segments 7–9. These appear in the form of tubules and conserve a similar size from the anterior to posterior region, with a small appendage in the distal region highly irrigated with blood ( Fig. 10 A). Gland structure is composite–tubular (tubular-dichotomous, panicled), made up of short parietal tubes that flow into each other once. The esophagus-intestine transition begins in segment 14 and the typhlosole begins in segment 20, lamina-shaped in the dorsum, occupying 1/3 of the intestinal lumen. There are no intestinal caeca.

Three pairs of thin lateral hearts are differentiated in segments 7–9, separating the calciferous glands, as well as two pairs of voluminous intestinal hearts located in segments 10 and 11. There is one pair of holonephridia per segment with intersegmental nephridiopores without sphincters opening in line with seta c ( Fig. 10 B).

One pair of testes and male funnels in testes sacs in segment 11.The male funnels are visible, originating in segment 11 and projecting backwards and flowing to the exterior in the male pores in intersegment 18/19. The seminal vesicles in 11 are white in color and project backwards to segment 17. One pair of ovaries and funnels in segment 13. Spermathecae can be observed in segments 7–9; the sperm duct is long and the pear-shaped ampulla has abundant sperm cells in its ends ( Fig. 10 C).

Remarks. Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) bora sp. nov. is closely related to Pontoscolex (P.) corethrurus ( Müller, 1857) and Pontoscolex (P.) uairemensis Righi, 1985 because of the number of segments of the clitellum: ½15–½23 versus 15–23 and 15–24, respectively. It differs, however, in the position of the tubercula pubertatis (½19–½22 versus 1/n 19–20, 21, 1/n 22; 21–23 respectively), the position of male pores (18/19 versus 20/ 21 in P. corethrurus and 19 in P. uairemensis ). They also differ in the setal arrangement, form and ornamentation of genital setae.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) bora sp. nov. A. Calciferous gland from segment 7. B. Post-clitellar nephridium. C. Spermathecae of 6 / 7, 7 / 8, 8 / 9.

FIGURE 8 - 9. Pontoscolex (Pontoscolex) bora sp. nov. 8 A. Clitellar region, lateral view. 8 B. Clitellar region, ventral view. 9 A. Common seta. 9 B. Genital seta.