Aridulodrilus, Dyne, 2021

Dyne, Geoffrey R., 2021, A New Genus and Species of Earthworm (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Semi-Arid Australia, Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 73 (4), pp. 123-129 : 124

Aridulodrilus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AFB3B6BE-1F0C-41D3-9CE0-12CF7B8AEDCE

Diagnosis. Large worms (over 250 mm in length). Setae more than 15 per segment throughout. Dorsal pores present. Male pores from racemose prostates paired on XVIII. Firm oesophageal gizzard in V; calciferous glands and oesophageal caeca absent; intestinal gizzards and tYphlosole lacking. Nephridia meronephric, avesiculate, and astomate, tufted anteriorlY. Caudal modifications of the excretorY sYstem (e.g., ureters) absent. Spermathecae three pairs, spermathecal diverticula clavate and single; several internal chambers (i.e., multiloculate but not sessile). Penial and genital setae absent.

Etymology. From the Latin aridulo-drilus —semi-desert worm.

Type-species. Aridulodrilus molesworthae gen. et sp. nov., monotYpic.

Distribution. Western New South Wales, Australia (restricted).

Remarks. The closest generic relative appears to be Austrohoplochaetella Jamieson, 1971 , differentiated bY the lack, in Aridulodrilus gen. nov., of anY caudal excretorY sYstem elaboration (such as megameronephridia, nephrostomes, bladders or ureters). Also Aridulodrilus gen. nov. lacks an intestinal tYphlosole.