New species and records of Phreodrilidae (Annelida: Clitellata) from Western Australia

Abstract

-Two new species of Phreodrilidae are described from habitats and regions of Western Australia from which the family has not previously been recorded. Phreodrilus peniculus sp. nov., the first phreodrilid to be described from north-western Australia, is characterised by a very short pseudopenis terminating in a small papilla at the apex of a long invagination of the body wall. This and other Phreodrilus with coiled pseudopenes are shown to have the pseudopenes and sometimes part of the atria ciliated. Astacopsidrilus edwardi sp. nov., which inhabits temporary seepages on granite outcrops of the inland south-west, has a swelling on the spermathecal ducts and often has replicated spermathecal chaetae. Additional records are provided for some previously recorded species.

Phreodrilidae (Clitellata: Annelida) in north-western Australia with descriptions of two new species

“…The genus is one of the few currently recognised phreodrilid genera with a distinct apomorphy, the coiled protrusible pseudopenes within a muscular sac, which can be everted to form a copulatory organ greater than the body width. Pllreodrillls pelliclllllS was described from springs in the Pilbara (Pinder 2003a) and has subsequently been collected from groundwater in the same region (Figure 1). The combination of a protrusible pseudopenis and a small pendant penis in P. lillllnei is otherwise found only in P. pelliclllllS, also from the Pilbara region.…”

“…However, while the family is far less widespread in more xeric parts of Australia, new species are increasingly being collected from ground water and groundwater associated wetlands outside of the temperate zones. Pinder (2003a) described the first endemic aquatic oligochaete, Pllreodrillls penicIIIIIs, from the arid north-west of Western Australia. Examination of additional material has revealed the presence of numerous other oligochaetes in the region, including some new stygobiotic species.…”

Description of ovary organization and oogenesis in a phreodrilid clitellate

“…Typical for clitellates, the position and general morphology of phreodrilid reproductive organs are well known (e.g., Beddard, ; Pinder & Brinkhurst, ; Pinder & Erséus, ; Pinder, , ). However, detailed descriptions (histological and ultrastructural) of phreodrilids are rare, for example, the external sense receptors in Insulodrilus sp.…”

Tools for identifying Australian aquatic oligochaetes of the families Phreodrilidae, Lumbriculidae and Capilloventridae (Clitellata: Annelida)

“…Most species are known only from Tasmania or Western Australia. There are currently 32 described species known from Australia (Erséus and Pinder, 2003;Pinder and Brinkhurst 1997, Pinder 2003and Pinder, 2008 out of 54 described worldwide. Only three of the species occurring in Australia also occur elsewhere but I suspect that Australian populations of at least two of these represent endemic species.…”

“…a = atrium, ff = female funnel, ep = eversible pseudopenes, pp = pendant penis, sa = spermathecal ampulla, sc = spermathecal chaetae, sd = spermathecal duct, sv = spermathecal vestibule, v = vas deferens. FromPinder and Brinkhurst (1997a) andPinder (2003), © CSIRO Publishing and Western Australian Museum respectively.…”