Abstract
Pelodera scrofulata sp. nov. is characterized by cuticle with longitudinal lines and punctations; offset lip region with separate lips, wider in females, moderately developed cheilostom, presence of glandular bodies associated with uterus, tail conoid to spicate; males with spicules fused up to 60–68% from distal end; peloderan bursa with two precloacal papillae 9–12 μm apart and seven postcloacal pairs in the configuration of 1 + 1/4 + P + 2 + 1. Pelodera aligarhensis sp. nov. is characterized by sexual dimorphism in anterior body region; cuticle often with faint longitudinal lines; slightly offset lip region; tail cupola-shaped; males with spicules fused up to 20-25% from distal end; peloderan bursa; one precloacal pair at anterior level of cloaca; two precloacals shifted posteriad to the cloacal level; seven postcloacal pairs of genital papillae in 1/2 + (2 + P) + (3 + 1) configuration. Some new information is added to the description of Pelodera teres (Schneider, 1866) with special reference to labial structure.
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:91E78F4F-08F2-45DE-B6A6-91F4E42011FF
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr W. Sudhaus for his valuable suggestions during preparation of the manuscript. We also thank Dr Rahmat Khan for her help and assistance for the procurement and processing of the samples. M.A. received a Summer Fellowship from the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, India. The financial assistance provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) and Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India, is gratefully acknowledged.
Notes
1. Name derived from the latin word ‘scrofulae’ = glands, reflecting the presence of conspicuous openings of glands into the uterus
2. The name of the species is based on its locality i.e., Aligarh