A new earthworm species of the genus Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from northern Taiwan, false synonymy between Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) and Amynthas sheni (Chen, 1935) and other taxonomic issues relating to A. corticis
Journal
Zootaxa
Journal Volume
5589
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
112
End Page
126
ISSN
1175-5334
1175-5326
Date Issued
2025-02-19
Author(s)
HUEI-PING SHEN
Abstract
This study describes a new species of earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from northern Taiwan. It is named Amynthas popi sp. nov. It is a large earthworm with four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6–8/9. It has a postsetal papilla medial to each male porophore and papillae closely or widely paired in presetal VIII, widely paired in postsetal XIX, and occasionally more closely paired in presetal XIX. Its compact prostate glands together with short, stout and horizontal prostatic ducts are rarely seen among the native Amynthas earthworms known from Taiwan. Amynthas sheni (Chen, 1935) is a false synonym of Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867) as the former has postsetal papillae on ventrum of VIII and occasionally also on IX, four pairs of esophageal hearts in X–XIII, well-developed prostate glands in XVI–XXI and long, U-curved prostatic ducts, which clearly set it apart from the latter. Other taxonomic issues relating to A. corticis are discussed. Additionally, Amynthas jampeanus fumigatus (Michaelsen, 1899) should be regarded as a subspecies of Amynthas bonthainensis (Benham, 1896) since it bears a very close resemblance to A. bonthainensis than to Amynthas jampeanus (Benham, 1896). The following combination is proposed: Amynthas bonthainensis fumigatus (Michaelsen, 1899) comb. nov.
Subjects
Amynthas corticis
Amynthas sheni
Earthworms
new species
Taiwan
Publisher
Magnolia Press
Type
journal article