Proandricus adami Plisko, 2003

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2009, Pre-testical spermathecal pores and unusual setal arrangement in the South African endemic microchaetid earthworms of presumed Gondwanan origin (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae), African Invertebrates 50 (2), pp. 237-237 : 243-244

Proandricus adami Plisko, 2003

Fig. 6

Proandricus adami: Plisko 2003: 295 .

Type locality: South Africa: KZN, Royal Natal National Park , Bank of Devil’s Hoek River , approx. 28 ° 42'S: 28 ° 54'E. Known from numerous sites located in the central Drakensberg mountain range .

Material examined: Holotype NMSA /Olig.02530; 3 cl paratypes NMSA /Olig.00918 and NMSA /Olig.00919. New material: South Africa, KZN, Royal Natal National Park, forest, 13 cl and 5 juv collected during March–April 2006 from 6 slightly distanced sites by MDTP KwaZulu-Natal University students group: NMSA /Olig.04203, NMSA /Olig.04204, NMSA /Olig.04215, NMSA /Olig.04246, NMSA /Olig.04249, NMSA /Olig.04252a, NMSA /Olig.04254, NMSA /Olig.04304, NMSA /Olig.4307, NMSA /Olig.04308.

The external morphological characters in all examined material agree with the original description. Although, preclitellarly and postclitellarly the setae are closely paired in regular rows, and in the clitellar area some of the pairs of ab are shifted up between bc, forming an irregular arrangement, some additional abnormality in setal arrangement was noted. On segment 16 and 18 in inter-setal space between ab and cd, a pair of additional setae occurred, making five pairs of setae per segment; in the other two specimens, two additional pairs of setae were placed above ab, giving six pair per segment on three clitellar segments.This abnormal phenomenon has been noted in three clitellate specimens and on two juvenile, selected from the population of 18 individuals collected in the Royal Natal National Park forested area. Spermathecae variable in shape and size. Anterior pairs elongated, always evidently smaller than posterior, often containing sperm. Posterior oval, large, with thin, elongated duct. In the majority of specimens examined, the posterior spermathecae are iridescent, filled with sperm and transparent through the body wall. Spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 9/10 and 10/11, although the pores of 9/10 are externally difficult to trace. Clitellum slightly resembling this of amphius , although on various individuals it was variably developed, unequally encircling segments ventrally.

P. adami , although noticeably similar to the species of the lesothoensis species-group, manifests irregularity in the setal arrangement extending to abnormality. Similar to bourquini , and lesothoensis , but differs by peculiarly arranged setae.

Figures

Figs 6–8. Habitus and enlarged clitellar area of Proandricus species: (6) P. adami, (7) P. amphius, (8) P. oresbiosus. Scale bars = 1 cm.