Wednesday, May 10, 2023

[Invertebrate • 2023] Amynthas panhai & A. oudomxayensis • Two New Species of Terrestrial Earthworms of the Genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata: Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Northern Laos


Amynthas panhai 
Bantaowong, Chanabun & Inkhavilay, 2023

Tropical Natural History. Supplement 7

Abstract
This paper describes two new species of terrestrial earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas from northern Laos; A. panhai sp. nov. and A. oudomxayensis sp. nov., are described based on external morphology and anatomy. They were determined to be new species after comparison with the other members of their respective species groups based on their original descriptions and some reference materials from Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg, and Chulalongkorn University, Museum of Zoology, Thailand. However, they differ from all other known species of Amynthas by a combination of the following characters: male field and genital marking pattern, shape of spermathecae, and prostate gland and duct.

Keywords: Amynthas, earthworm, new species, Laos, taxonomy

Photographs of holotype (CUMZ 3832) of Amynthas panhai sp. nov.
 A. specimen showing the coloration of the ventral side after preservation with 4% (w/v) formalin and in 70%(v/v) ethanol,
B. living specimen from the type locality showing coloration 
and, C. type locality of Amynthas panhai sp. nov


Ueangfa Bantaowong, Ratmanee Chanabun and Khamla Inkhavilay. 2023. Two New Species of Terrestrial Earthworms of the Genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata, Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae) from Northern Laos. Tropical Natural History. Supplement 7;165-172.