Amynthas kendingensis Shen, 2025

Shen, Huei-Ping, Csuzdi, Csaba & Chang, Chih-Han, 2025, A re-examination of the pheretimoid earthworms reported in James et al. (2005), false synonymy between Drawida barwelli (Beddard, 1886) and Drawida beddardi (Rosa, 1890) and comments on recent publications on East and Southeast Asian earthworms, European Journal of Taxonomy 981 (1), pp. 52-75 : 62-65

Amynthas kendingensis Shen sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CEEF533D-FCE6-4054-BD95-AA811531D25D

Fig. 2

Amynthas corticis – James et al. 2005: 1023 (partim).

Diagnosis

Length (clitellates) 52–78 mm. Segments numbering 58–87. Setae 28–42 in VII, 36–51 in XX, 10–14 between male pores. First dorsal pore in 4/5, 5/6 or 6/7. Clitellum XIV–XVI. Spermathecal pores four pairs in 5/6–8/9, 0.28–0.35 body circumference ventrally apart. Male pores 0.25–0.29 body circumference ventrally apart in XVIII, each with posterolateral and sometimes with anterolateral genital papillae, surrounded by one or two shallow circular folds. Genital papillae small, 0–6 medial to each spermathecal pore in intersegmental furrow, 1–5 in a row or in a cluster medial to each male disc in presetal XVIII, and widely paired in presetal XIX. Spermathecae four pairs in VI–IX. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI and XII. Prostate glands paired in XVI–XIX or XVI–XX. Prostatic ducts long, U-shaped in XVI–XVIII. Accessory glands stalked.

Etymology

The species is named after its locality, Kending, Pingtung County, Taiwan.

Type material

Holotype

TAIWAN • clitellate (mature) specimen; Nanrenshan, Kending , Pingtung County; 22°05′03″ N, 120°50′07″ E; 150 m a.s.l.; 24 Aug. 1999; Chung-Chi Hwang leg.; NMNS-8595-002.

Paratypes

TAIWAN • 11 clitellates; same data as for holotype; NMNS 4054-032 .

Description

Length (mature) 52–78 mm. Number of segments 58–87. Setae regularly distributed around segmental equators, size and distance regular, numbering 28–42 in VII, 36–51 in XX, 10–16 between spermathecal pores, 10–14 between male pores in XVIII. Prostomium epilobous. First dorsal pore in 4/5, 5/6 or 6/7. Clitellum XIV–XVI, smooth, setae and dorsal pores absent, length 1.7–2.5 mm and width 2.3–2.9 mm. Spermathecal pores four pairs in 5/6–8/9 ( Fig. 2A ), paired pores 0.28–0.35 body circumference ventrally apart. Genital papillae small, 0–6 medial to each spermathecal pore in intersegmental furrow. Other preclitellar genital markings often absent. Among the 12 specimens examined, papillae widely paired in presetal VIII for one specimen, one on right side of presetal VIII for one specimen, and widely paired in presetal IX for one specimen, each papilla 0.15–0.2 mm in diameter. Female pore single, mid-ventral in XIV.

Male pores paired, ventro-lateral in XVIII, paired pores 0.25–0.29 body circumference ventrally apart. Number and arrangement of papillae in male pore region highly variable. Among the 12 specimens examined, each male pore with a posterolateral papilla for three specimens, with a posterolateral and an anterolateral papilla for four specimens, with 2–3 posterolateral papillae for four specimens, and with 2 posterolateral and 1–2 anterolateral papillae for one specimen. Holotype with additional two posteromedial papillae for each male pore and an anteromedial papilla for left male pore ( Fig. 2B ). Each papilla small, about 0.1 mm in diameter. These papillae together with the male pore surrounded by one or two shallow circular folds. In addition, 1–5 papillae in a row or in a cluster medial to each male disc in presetal XVIII. In XIX, presetal papillae widely paired for 10 specimens, one on left side of presetal XIX for one specimen, and one on left side of postsetal XIX for one specimen. Preserved specimens brown on dorsum, light greyish brown on venter, dark brown on clitellum.

Septa 5/6–7/8 thickened, 8/9/10 absent, 10/11–13/14 thickened. Nephridial tufts on anterior faces of 5/6/7. Gizzard in VIII–X. Intestine enlarged from XV. Intestinal caeca paired in XXVII, simple, surface slightly wrinkled, extending anteriorly to XXV. Esophageal hearts paired in XI–XIII.

Spermathecae four pairs in VI–IX. Ampulla peach- or elongated oval-shaped, surface wrinkled, 1.1– 1.5 mm in length and 0.8–1.1 mm in width, with a short, slender stalk 0.2–0.3 mm long. Diverticulum with a round or oval, iridescent seminal chamber 0.2–0.4 mm in length and a short, slender stalk 0.3–0.4 mm in length ( Fig. 2C ). Accessory glands stalked, 0.4–0.5 mm in total length, each corresponding to external genital papilla. Ovaries paired in XIII.

Holandric. Testes oval, two pairs in ventrally joined sacs in X and XI. Seminal vesicles two pairs in XI and XII, each with a round, prominent dorsal lobe. Prostate glands paired in XVI–XIX or XVI–XX, lobed, follicular. Prostatic ducts long, U-shaped in XVI–XVIII or XVII–XVIII, enlarged in distal half ( Fig. 2D ). Accessory glands stalked, 0.3–0.4 mm in total length.

Distribution

Known only from type locality (Nanrenshan, Kending, Pingtung County, Taiwan).

Remarks

The unique genital papilla arrangements in the preclitellar and male pore regions together with the anteriorly placed first dorsal pore in 4/5, 5/6 or 6/ 7 in A. kendingensis sp. nov. clearly distinguishes it from A. corticis . The papilla arrangements in A. kendingensis sp. nov. are somewhat like those in A. evansi ( Beddard, 1900) from Biserat, Malay Peninsula. Amynthas evansi also has four pairs of spermathecae in VI–IX, a row of genital papillae in the intersegmental furrow of 7/8 (eight papillae on each side), and 7 papillae in a row medial to each male disc in XVIII ( Fig. 3 ). However, A. evansi is larger (body length 120 mm and segments numbering 120 for an aclitellate specimen), and has the first dorsal pore in 11/12 or 12/13, a short prostatic duct and a coiled diverticular stalk ( Beddard 1900; Stephenson 1932). The type specimen of A. evansi is deposited at the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH 1904.10.5.37) and was examined by HPS in 2014.

Figures

Fig. 2. Amynthas kendingensis Shen sp. nov., holotype (NMNS-8595-002).A. Ventral view of spermathecal pore region. B. Ventral view of clitellum and male pore region. C. Dorsal view of left spermathecae. D. Dorsal view of right prostate gland. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Amynthas evansi (Beddard, 1900), syntype (BMNH 1904.10.5.37). A. Ventral view of segments VII–VIII. B. Ventral view of male pore region. Scale bars: 1 mm.