Kerriona clivedwardsi James, Bartz & Brown, 2023

James, Samuel W., Bartz, Marie L. C. & Brown, George G., 2023, New Ocnerodrilidae genera, species and records from Brazil (Annelida: Crassiclitellata), Zootaxa 5255 (1), pp. 235-269 : 246-249

Kerriona clivedwardsi James, Bartz & Brown , sp. nov. ( Fig. 8 a-d)

Holotype. BRPR0202 , adult, Vila Velha State Park , Ponta Grossa, Paraná state, Brazil, S25.2519°, W50.0158°, 801m asl., in marshy soil in a wetland; 31 January 2006, S.W. James, S.K. Davidson, G.G. Brown, N. Pinel, T. Decaëns, colls.

Paratype. BRPR01854 , 1 juvenile, same data as holotype .

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Prof. Clive Edwards for his vast contributions to earthworm biology and ecology, and in recognition of his support for earthworm scientists worldwide.

Description. Dimensions (holotype only; paratype is 60 mm and has regenerating tail segments) 139 mm by 4 mm at segment x, 4 mm at clitellum, 3.9 mm at xxx, body cylindrical, tapering in posterior third to narrow conical pygidium; final 20 or more segments much shorter; segments 179 (121 plus 58 possible regenerates). Setae closely paired throughout, CD sub-lateral; setal formula AA:AB:BC:CD = 3.5:1:4.5:1 at x, 3.5:1:4:1 at xxx, DD =0.4 circumference. Prostomium epilobous open; segments lacking secondary annulations. Unpigmented, no dorsal pores, spermathecal pores within 7/8, 8/ 9 in AB. Within furrows 7/8/9, between spermathecal pores is a densely packed row of large pebbly papillae. Spermathecal pores surrounded by large thickened lips across ½BC to ½BC, encompassing post-setal third of vii, presetal third of viii; post-setal third of viii, presetal third of ix. Ovipores in xiv just behind 13/14, lateral to B line. Male pores not seen but likely in xviii; prostatic pores deep round holes at ends of seminal grooves in xvii, xix; cylindrical turret bodies with broader flat caps protruding slightly from prostatic pores; no pores seen on turret surfaces. Seminal grooves in B ½ xvii-½ xix; slightly concave medially with transverse ovate papillae crossing groove in xviii, setae A on medial half of the papillae. Elevated flat male field bounded by white rim from 16/17 to ½xx, reaching to ½BC laterally. Setae A present unmodified, B absent in xviii, AB absent in xvii, xix. Clitellum ½xiii-xx, saddle to A, no other genital markings ( Fig. 8a ).

Anterior septa 4/5, 10/11/12 slightly muscular, 5/6-9/10 thickly muscular. Alimentary canal lacking gizzard; esophagus valvular in xii, intestinal origin in ½ xii; no typhlosole. Blood sinuses evident in wall of intestine in xiixxii. Calciferous glands paired in ix, attached dorso-laterally to esophagus, glands with longitudinal ridges filling space of gland, but separate; these ridges are composed of fine longitudinal tubules; each gland with blood vessel from anterior end to extra-esophageal vessel, and blood vessel from duct of gland to supra-esophageal vessel ( Fig. 8b ). Holonephric, first nephridia in segment vii, tubular throughout and generally small within BC; no bladders.

Vascular system with ventral trunk, single dorsal trunk in iv-ix, dorsal vessel double in x-xiv, scattered perforations in dorsal vessel of xv-xx; lateral vessels in v-ix, esophageal hearts in x-xi. Small segmental vessels from dorsal vessel to body wall with branches within that segment, in xiv.

Fan-shaped ovaries, with funnels in xiii; paired spermathecae in viii, ix, consisting of muscular duct broader towards body wall, containing sperm chambers, and long ovate ampulla well-demarcated from duct ( Fig. 8c ).

Male sexual system proandric, testes and funnels in x in membranous sacs independent of septa, vas deferens superficial on body wall from 10/11, terminates in small muscular bulb in xviii; seminal vesicles in xi large multilobed; absent in ix. Slender tubular prostates folded under intestine within xvii-xxvi; long slender muscular prostatic ducts, enter muscular parietal copulatory bursal domes in xvii, xix ( Fig. 8d ). Bursa cavities small, only contain prostatic turret bodies. No penial setae. Transverse muscle bands in male field segments from xvi-xxi.

Remarks: Several characters distinguish K. clivedwardsi sp. nov. from other species: papillae in the intersegmental furrows bearing the spermathecal pores, large elevated lips around spermathecal pores and extending over entire ventro-lateral range, extensive thickening of the male field area, lack of seminal vesicles in ix, and dorsal vessel doubling within x-xx only. Although not unique to this species, the testis sacs are not composed of fusion of septa 9/10/11 but from a membranous covering. We were unable to obtain DNA barcodes for this species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Kerriona clivedwardsi sp. nov. A. Composite ventral view of male field (mf) and spermathecal pores (sp); B. Cross section of calciferous gland; C. Spermatheca; D. Prostatic duct (pd) and bursa (b), scale bars 1 mm.