Udeina anneae, Plisko, 2004

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2004, Review of the balantine genus Udeina Michaelsen, 1910 with descriptions of six new species in South Africa (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Acanthodrilinae), African Invertebrates 45 (1998), pp. 287-287 : 298-299

Udeina anneae sp. n.

Figs 4–6

Etymology: Named after my friend Mrs Anne Blaylock.

Type material: Holotype: mature, with clitellum marked by brownish colouring, NMSA /Olig.02032 KwaZulu­Natal: Kranskop (29º59'S: 30º53'E) indigenous forest, from litter and first layer of moist soil, 12 December 1994, JDP & B. R. Stuckenberg . Paratype: NMSA /Olig.03638, 1 specimen in similar state of development, collected with holotype .

Description:

External features:

Body cylindrical, after long preservation in alcohol dorsally violet along whole body length, slightly fading behind segment 107, last 7 segments circularly violet; laterally colouring extends to c setae; ventrally yellowish­grey. Holotype 107 mm long, 5 mm wide; paratype 85 mm long, 4 mm wide. Segment number: holotype and paratype 157. Prostomium: tanylobous with deep sutures. Setae: large, widely paired; aa> ab; ab <bc; aa = bc; distance between ab decreasing slightly on 15–18, increasing on 19–25, posteriorly even. Dorsal pores: not observed. Nephridial pores: not observed. Spermathecal pores: in intersegmental furrow 7/8, ventro­laterally in front of b setae, on small swellings. Female pores: not observed externally. Clitellum : externally undeveloped, marked by brownish colouring, on 13–1/n18. Prostatic pores: ventro­laterally, in 19, on small papillae near b setae. Male pores: not observed externally; probably in 18. Seminal grooves: not observed. Papillae: not observed.

Internal characters:

Salivary glands: large, not extending backwards beyond septum 4/5. Gizzard: moderately developed in segment 5, cylindrical, slightly muscular. Septa: 5/6–6/7 thin, conical, 7/8–15/16 much thickened; 7/8–11/12 increasing in thickness, 12/13–15/16 decreasing in thickness, much thinner than 11/12; other septa very thin. Intestine: commences in 17; oesophagus in 12–15 enlarged, soft, in 16 narrow. Lateral hearts: four pairs; last pair in 13. Nephridia: elongated coiled loops without terminal vesicles, large in anterior segments, posteriorly smaller. Ovaries: not observed. Testes and spermiductal funnels: spermiductal funnels free, ventrally in segment 10. Vasa deferentia : observed only in 10–11, in following segments covered by thick tissues of body wall; ectal parts not observed, and entry into male pores not established. Seminal vesicles: two pairs; in 9 and 11 respectively; anterior pair commencing laterally at septum 9/10, moderate, lobulated; posterior pair much larger, lobulated, commencing at septum 10/11 medially, extending dorsolaterally. Spermathecae ( Fig. 4 ): in segment 8; ampulla large, ovoid, connected with wide duct at its anterior part. Diverticulum simple, globular, unilobate, attached to duct at its almost half length, terminating below ampulla. Prostates: one pair, well developed. Prostatic gland relatively narrow, multi­folded, looped, passing irregularly backwards through segments 19–21, partly piercing septa or shaping them conically. Prostatic duct commences as thin, coiled tube in segment 20, extends forward to 19, becoming much thicker, enters into prostatic pore in 19. It was not established if prostatic ectal parts are fused with vasa deferentia before entering body wall, or enter prostatic pores independently. Penial setae ( Figs 5–6 ): four setae in bundle, possibly not all developed into mature state. Long approx. 3.8 mm, straight, slightly thinner and rounded at ectal parts. Penial setal retractor muscles: thin, commence at septum 19/20.

Biological notes and distribution: The two specimens were collected from litter in indigenous mistbelt forest. The site is a small, steep­sided valley adjacent to the road from neighbouring town of Kranskop. Degradation of the forest and pollution of the stream were evident.Both specimens have the clitellum marked only by brown colouring, externally without developed clitellar tissues, suggesting post­sexual state. No sperm was observed in the large, well developed, spermathecal diverticulum; iridescent spermiductal funnels and large seminal vesicles were present. The species was associated with the indigenous microchaetids Proandricus setosus Plisko, 1996 , Tritogenia insolita Plisko, 1997 , and Tritogenia koilia Plisko, 1997 , and an introduced Amynthas sp. This species is known only from a fairly typical Afromontane mistbelt forest on the south side of the Thukela River in KZN.

Discussion: U. anneae is similar to U. adriani in having the prostatic pores in segment 19 and the male pores in 18, but differs in location of the last pair of lateral hearts, commencement of intestine, and shape of spermathecae. Penial setae are also different.

Figures

Figs 4–6. Udeina anneae sp. n. Holotype. 4. Spermatheca, 500 X. A = ampulla; Dv = diverticulum. 5. Penial setae, juvenile, 400 X. 6. Ectal part of juvenile penial seta, 500 X.