A new species of Proandricus Plisko, 1992 (Clitellata, Microchaetidae) from a South African grassland

Abstract

The continued reduction of suitable natural habitats threatens the existence of earthworms. A project that document earthworm species in areas previously open to the public is ongoing in KwaZulu-Natal. The public areas have been less surveyed for earthworms and a recent survey resulted in the collection of a new species of Proandricus Plisko, 1992. The new species is morphologically close to Proandricus warreni (Michaelsen, 1913), and belongs to one of the eight species groups of Proandricus, the P. warreni group. The difference is in the position of clitellum, number and shape of spermathecae and seminal vesicles. The current distribution of Proandricus bongani sp.n. is limited to Drummond area in KwaZulu-Natal and this is generally the case in the warreni group with the exception of P. warreni that has been collected in more than one locality. The known localities of P. warreni species group are mapped. Indigenous species may live in open access spaces provided there is some pockets of suitable habitat remaining for them.