Perelia galileana, Csuzdi & Pavliček, 2005

Csuzdi, C. & Pavliček, T., 2005, Earthworms From Israel. Ii. Remarks On The Genus Perelia Easton, 1983 With Descriptions Of A New Genus And Two New Species, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (2), pp. 75-96 : 81

Perelia galileana sp. n.

( Figs 4–7 )

Allolobophora sp. PAVLÍČEK et al. 1996: 450.

Holotype: No. 14876 Qiryat Tivon , Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 1996.03.20.

Paratypes: No. 12228 3 ex., Mt. Carmel, Nahal Oren, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK 1995.03.03 . No. 12412 1+ 2 ex., Qiryat Tivon, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 1996.03.20 . No. 12957 2 ex., Latrun, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 1998.03.22 . No. 14040 1+ 2 ex., Allone Abba, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK & Cs. Csuzdi, 2001.03.21 . No. 14136 1+ 3 ex., southwestern slope of Golan Heights near Kinneret, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 2001.02.09 . No. 14724 1+ 2 ex., Allone Abba, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 2004.03.27 .

Additional material examined: No. 12442 0+ 1 ex., Israel, Allone Abba , T. PAVLÍČEK 1996 . 03.20. No. 14715 0+ 2 ex., Nahal Tabor in Jordan Valley, Israel, T. PAVLÍČEK, 2004.02.21 ( Fig. 4 ) .

Etymology: The name of this species refers to the place of its distribution.

Diagnosis. Length: 40–68 mm, diameter: 3–5 mm, setae closely paired. Clitellum on 23, 24–34. Tubercles on 31–34. Male pore on 15 great. Dissepiments 6/7–8/9 thickened. Two pairs of vesicles in 11, 12; two pairs of spermathecae in 9/10, 10/11 open in setal line cd. Calciferous glands with lateral diverticula in 10. Nephridial bladders “S” shaped, with cephalad bent ental part and an ectal vesiculum.

Description. Holotype: length 71 mm, diameter just after the clitellum 5 mm. Number of segments 151. Paratypes: 40–68 mm long and 3–4.5 mm wide. Number of segments 133–146. Colour pale, pigmentation lacking. Prostomium epilobous ½ open. First dorsal pore at the intersegmental furrow 4/5. Setae strictly paired. Setal formula at segment xl: aa:ab:bc:cd:dd = 14.5:1.5:12:1:30. Two pairs of spermathecal pores present in furrows 9/10 and 10/ 11 in the setal line cd. Male pores ventral, just above setae b, on the segment xv intruding also to the neighbouring segments. Nephridial pores irregularly alternated between setal line b -d. Clitellum on segments xxiv–xxxiv sometimes slightly intruding into the neighbouring segments. Tubercula pubertatis on segments (xxx) xxxi–xxxiv. Genital papillae variable usually in the region ix–xiii ab and xxx ab. Genital setae of xi 0.580 –0.650 mm long, spear-shaped with 0.240 –0.300 mm long longitudinal grooves ( Fig. 5 ).

Internal characteristics. Septa 6/7–8/9 thickened. Free testes and funnels paired in segments x–xi. Seminal vesicles present in segments xi and xii. Spermathecae in segments ix, x with external openings in the setal line cd. Calciferous diverticula present in segments x with lamellae extending into xi. Paired lateral hearts appear in segments vi–xi, with a pair of small extraoesophageal vessels in xii. Nephridial bladders “S” shaped with cephalad bent ental limb and an ectal vesicle ( Fig. 6 ). Crop in segments xv–xvi, and gizzard in segments xvii–xviii. Typhosolis large, tri-lobed. Longitudinal muscle layers fasciculate with strong radial walls ( Fig. 7 ).

Remark. The new species seems to be close to P. shamsi sp. n. and to the widely distributed P. kaznakovi ( MICHAELSEN, 1910) , but differs from both in the position of the clitellum and tubercles ( Table 1).

Figures

Fig. 4. Distribution of P. galileana sp. n. and P. shamsi sp. n.

Figs 5–7. P. galileana sp. n.: 5 = penial seta (top), 6 = nephridial bladder (middle), 7 = musculature (bottom)