Nine new earthworm species of Proandricus Plisko, 1992 from South Africa and Lesotho (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae) Author Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta text African Invertebrates 2002 2002-12-31 43 183 204 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.7666001 2305-2562 7666001 Proandricus michelleae sp. n. ( Fig. 8 ) Etymology: Named for Dr M. Hamer of the School of Botany & Zoology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, who collected and donated the type material to the Natal Museum. Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu-Natal : Holotype NMSA /Olig.02713, Drakensberg Gardens , Mzimkulwane area ( 29º42'S : 29º19'E ) on surface of path during rainy day, 16 February 1998 , M. Hamer and K. Martens leg. Paratype : NMSA / Olig. 02714 collected together with holotype . Description based on holotype and paratype . External characters: General : Body cylindrical, flattened at clitellum and in the area of tubercula pubertatis. Colour : Alcohol-preserved yellowish-grey. Dimensions : Preserved holotype 110 mm long, 4 mm wide at segment 10, 7 mm at tubercula pubertatis. Paratype 134 mm long, 5 mm wide at 10, 7 mm at tubercula pubertatis. Segment number : Holotype 383. Prostomium : Prolobous, moderate. Segmentation : Secondary annulation present on preclitellar segments; 1 and 2 short, with longitudinal grooves; 3 simple, as long as first ringlet of segment 4; 4–8 with two simple ringlets, similar in size and appearance; 9 with two ringlets, second shorter than first; segments 10–12 simple, irregularly annulated, postclitellar simple. Setae : Moderate in size, closely paired; first pairs on segment 3; on annulated segments on first ringlet; setal distances of aa are not constant on some preclitellar and on some postclitellar segments; on 9–13 aa setae are slightly closer than these on 15– 16; on 17–20, covered by tissue of the tubercula pubertatis, probably located similarly to these on16; on 21–30 distances slightly increasing; ab = cd on all segments; on segments 31 and the following aa> bc. Nephridial pores : Conspicuous, in cd setal lines; first pair in intersegmental furrow 3/4. Female pores : In posterior part of 14, between b and c setal lines. Male pores : It is difficult to establish exact position: two clear, elongated depressions in segment 16 slightly above ab setae suggest presence of male pores; however, in the same segment, medially, near to intersegmental furrow of 16/17, is a longitudinal, single concavity. It can include the pore or pores into which vasa deferentia enter; in dissected specimen vasa deferentia were observed in anterior part of segment 17, close to the external middle cavity; however, in intersegmental furrow 17/18, laterally to tubercula pubertatis are two clear openings that may be male pores. Spermathecal pores : Not observed externally; position of spermathecae noted during dissection indicates they are in intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/13. Figs 8–9. Proandricus species. Clitellar region, ventral view. 8. P . michelleae sp. n. 9. P . richerti sp. n. [C= clitellum; T = tuberculum pubertatis.] Clitellar region ( Fig. 8 ): Clitellum : Saddle-shaped, segmented; on segments 13–23, although clitellar tissues cover segment 13 only dorsally in the middle portion; on 13– 15 ventral edges terminate at cd setae; on 16–20 at edges of tubercula pubertatis; on 21–23 clitellum extends slightly below cd setae. Tubercula pubertatis : On segments 16–20, segmented; on 17–19 marked by brownish colour; vertically stretched rectangles, medially separated and rimmed with narrow strips, extended laterally to clitellar borders; bordering clitellum on 1/n16–1/n20 with clear, enlarged rims. Papillae : A pair of moderately sized, swollen tubercles around ab setae on 12, associated with genital glands. Internal characters: Septa : 4/5 5/6 6/7 thin, not thickened; 7/8 and 8/9 thickened very much, muscular, similar in size and appearance; other septa thin, firm. Gizzard : In 7; small, anteriorly muscular, posteriorly soft. Calciferous glands : In 9, lateral; separated dorsally and ventrally. Intestine : Commences in 13. Typhlosole : Commences in 13 as large U-shaped tube; in holotype terminates in segment 170. Dorsal blood vessel : In 5 and 6 double, close; in 7 double in only posterior part, close; in 8 double, separated; 9 double, cordiform; single when crossing septa, in 10 and following segments. Paired dorsoventral vessels : Thin vessels in 5–8; in 9–11 enlarged, moniliform. Nephridia : Meganephridia ; coiled loops and V-shaped caeca. Reproductive organs: Spermiductal funnels : Proandric arrangement (in segment 10); one pair of large funnels enclosed in common sac; closely connected with seminal sacs at posterior part of segment 10; iridescence confirms presence of sperm. Vasa deferentia : Single ducts run medially at each side of body to anterior part of segment 17, when they enter body wall; it is difficult to establish which cavities noted externally on segment 16 or intersegmental furrow 17/18 correspond with vasa deferentia. Seminal vesicles : One pair of large vesicles anteriorly connected at septum 10/11 with spermiductal funnels; elongated, confined to segment 11; bent vertically and closely touching each other dorsally. Spermathecae : One pair per segment near septa 11/12 and 12/13; tiny, tubular, bent or coiled tubes based on small thickenings. Ovaries : Not observed, covered by body wall tissue. Genital glands : A pair of moderately sized and similar appearance, ventrally in segment 12; twice-folded, elongated glands; associated with papillae. Biological notes: Collected in outskirts of Drakensberg escarpment, in a patch of Afromontane forest invaded by alien plantations of wattle and pine trees. Associated with the new species martensi , described above. Discussion: This species belongs to the colletti species-group. It is similar to the new species martensi , having spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/ 13 and clitellum on segments 13–23. However, the shapes of the clitellum and tubercula pubertatis are distinct in both species.