Udeina qudeni, 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 : 308-309

Udeina qudeni sp. n.

Figs 18–20

Etymology: Named after the type locality Qudeni Forest Reserve , an African place name in apposition.

Type material: Holotype: clitellate NMSA /Olig.03770 KwaZulu­Natal: Qudeni Forest Reserve (28º37'1.557"S: 30º50'19.526"E), hillside, grassland, under rock, 4 March 2003, A. J. Armstrong.

Description:

External features:

Body cylindrical, alcohol­preserved dorsally violet, iridescent, colouring fading posteriorly; laterally extending to setal lines a; five anterior segments circularly pigmented; ventrally yellowish­grey. Holotype abscised 19+ mm long, 2 mm wide. Segment number: 62+. Prostomium: tanylobous, narrow, elongated, with distinct sutures. Setae: widely paired, moderately large, at segment 20 aa> bc; ab <cd. Dorsal pores: not observed. Nephridial pores: not observed. Spermathecal pores: in intersegmental furrow 7/8, in front of b setae, in small swellings. Female pores: not observed. Clitellum : saddle­shaped, on 13–17 marked by reddish­brown colouration. Prostatic pores ( Fig. 18): on small papillae in 17. Male pores: in 16, in papillae. Seminal grooves: not observed. Papillae: tiny swellings, posterior to b setae on segment 9.

Internal characters:

Salivary glands: small, not extending backwards beyond septum 4/5. Gizzard: well developed, in segment 5, elongated, muscular. Septa: 5/6–7/8 slightly thickened, those following not thickened. Intestine: commences in 15. Lateral hearts: four pairs, last pair in 12. Nephridia: tiny loops without terminal vesicles. Ovaries: not observed. Testes and spermiductal funnels: spermiductal funnels small, free, ventrally in segment 10. Vasa deferentia : covered by thick tissues of body wall; ectal parts not observed. Seminal vesicles: two pairs; in 9 and 11, anterior pair much smaller then posterior. Spermathecae ( Fig. 19): in segment 8. Ampulla oblong, elongated, bent forwards over duct and diverticulum. Duct stretched out, nearly as long as ampulla, ectal parts entering body wall in intersegmental furrow 7/8. Diverticulum moderate in size, globular, unilobate, attached to duct below ampulla. Prostates ( Fig. 20): one pair in segments 17–20. Prostatic gland multi­folded, looped, passing irregularly backwards through segments 18–20; thin septa of occupied segments partly pierced. Prostatic duct thin, soft, elongated, connected with prostatic gland in posterior part of segment 17, evidently entering into prostatic pores in segment 17. Penial setae: a and b similar, undeveloped probably due to the post­sexual state of the specimen; ectally slightly curved with sharp blade. Penial setal retractor muscles: thin, commence posteriorly to septum 17/18.

Biological notes and distribution: The unique specimen was found at a montane site overlooking the Thukela valley, central KZN, in grassland soil. Iridescence observed in the diverticulum suggests previous sexual activity.

Discussion: U. qudeni is a distinctive species. It differs notably from congeners in having male pores relocated into segment 16, with prostatic pores in segment 17. The origin of intestine in segment 15 is also a unique character in this genus. It is unknown whether these characters are constant, since only one specimen was found.