Millsonia inermis ( MICHAELSEN, 1892 )

Csuzdi, Cs., 2006, West African Earthworm Genus Millsonia Beddard, 1894 (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiinae) Reviewed And Separation Of A New Genus, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 52 (1), pp. 35-48 : 39

Millsonia inermis ( MICHAELSEN, 1892)

( Fig. 3 )

Benhamia inermis MICHAELSEN 1892: 209 ; BEDDARD 1895: 568.

Dichogaster inermis : MICHAELSEN 1900: 366.; MICHAELSEN 1913: 166.; MICHAELSEN 1937: 501.

Millsonia inermis : OMODEO 1955: 218; OMODEO 1958: 59; SIMS 1965 a: 299; SIMS 1986: 293; CSUZDI 1996: 361., CSUZDI 2000 a: 75., CSUZDI 2000 b: 30.

Material examined. MRAC 34.327 1+ 13 juv. ex ., HNHM AF/5124 1+ 2 juv. ex., Togo, Nameundjega. Leg. F. PUYLAERT, 2. VIII. 1969, MRAC 34.328 2 ex. , HNHM AF/5126 1 ex., Togo, Niamtougou. Leg. F. PUYLAERT, 21–24. VII. 1969 .

Remarks. This is one of the most widely distributed Millsonia species showing high morphological variability, especially in the distribution of the numerous genital papillae and the number of intestinal caeca. The specimens examined externally resemble to those figured by SIMS (1986, Fig. 7c) and possess 11 pairs of intestinal caeca in xxx–xli ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

Figs 1–3. 1 = R. (P.) omodeoi (SIMS, 1986):a = excretory system, b = sketch drawing of the excretory system. Abbreviation – sm: exonephric sac–shaped meronephridium; cch: collecting channel, fm: filiform enteronephric megameronephridium, nc: nerve cord, nf: nephridial funnel. 2–3 = Male field: