A new species of earthworm in Amynthas hexathecus species group (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from the Nam Xam National Protected Area, Laos

Abstract

Earthworm specimens collected from the Nam Xam National Protected Area, Laos represent a new species of Megascolecidae: Amynthas hauyhowensis sp. nov. Amynthas hauyhowensis sp. nov. is in the hexathecus species group in Sims and Easton (1972), defined by having five pairs of spermathecae in 4/5–8/9. The species has secondary male pores equatorial in XVIII at the 11th setal lines, paired invaginated genital papillae postsetal on XVII anterior to male pores, and manicate intestinal caeca. A description of the new species is provided, including illustrations of the ventral view, intestinal caeca, prostate gland and representative spermathecae. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E5B6BC83-AB8E-4A49-BF90-C6752E55E8DE

Keywords:

• earthworms
• Amynthas
• Megascolecidae
• Clitellata
• Nam Xam NPA
• Laos
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2011–0014118). The authors thank Liphone Nophasead for preparing the illustrations.