Eminoscolex franzi Zicsi & Csuzdi 1986

Csuzdi, Cs., Sherlock, E., Kouete, M. Talla & Doherty-Bone, T. M., 2015, Four new earthworm species from the highlands of Cameroon with description of a new genus Okudrilus gen. n. (Oligochaeta: Eudrilidae & Acanthodrilidae), African Invertebrates 56 (1), pp. 25-38 : 27

Eminoscolex franzi Zicsi & Csuzdi 1986 stat. n.

Figs 2–4

Eminoscolex steindachneri Cognetti, 1909 ; Sims 1971: 531.

Eminoscolex steindachneri franzi Zicsi & Csuzdi, 1986: 198 .

Material examined: CAMEROON: North-West Region, Hills above Lake Bambili 2280 m, leg. M. T. Kouete & T. Doherty-Bone , 24.v.2012 ( NHM 2013.438 1 ex., HNHM AF/5572 2 ex.), North-West Region, Oku, below Tolon Falls , 1675 m, leg. T. Doherty-Bone, 19.v.2012 ( NHM 2013.439 1 ex.) , North-West Region, Lake Awing, 2082 m, leg. M. T. Kouete & T. Doherty-Bone , 23.v.2012 ( NHM 2013.440 1 ex.) .

Remarks: Eminoscolex steindachneri franzi was described by Zicsi and Csuzdi (1986) from the Republic of Congo (Sibiti, Brazzaville and Kindamba). It was thought to be similar to E. steindachneri Cognetti, 1909 from Cameroon (no closer locality given). However, an examination of the ovospertmathecal system of steindachneri and franzi shows clearly that they belong to different species ( Figs 2, 3 ). Another difference is in the structure of the sperm reservoir, which is simple moniliform in steindachneri and highly undulated in franzi ( Fig. 4 ). Habitats where these specimens were collected were in areas disturbed by cultivation or grazing.

Figures

Figs. 2–4. (2) Eminoscolex steindachneri, spermathecal apparatus, after COgnetti (1909 fig. 10); (3) Eminoscolex franzi, spermathecal apparatus; (4) Eminoscolex franzi,sperm reservoir.Abbreviations: Fch = fertilization chamber, Nc = nerve cord, Osd = ovo-spermathecal duct, Ov = ovarium, Ovd = oviduct, Ovs = ovisac, S = septum, Sr = sperm reservoir, Sta = spermathecal ampulla, Stp = spermathecal pore.