Remarks on the South African endemic Proandricus lesothoensis species-group

Abstract

Nine of fifty-three proandric South African endemic microchaetids, characterized by a location of spermathecae and their pores in testicular, and anterior to testicular segment, are discussed. Seven species: adami, amphius, bourquini, lesothoensis, oresbiosus, pajori and sani, with spermathecal pores in testicular and pre-testicular furrows, are accredited to the lesothoensis species-group. These species occur in only limited areas of the Central Drakensberg mountain range, and some of them display a discrepancy in the arrangement of setae. P. notabilis differing in size and shape of the body, possessing one pair of spermathecae in testicular segment 10 and other spermathecae in post-testicular segments in 11 and 12, with regular setal arrangement, is not included to this group. P. timmianus, in which pre-testicular spermathecae were noted only on histological slides, is also not included in the lesothoensis species-group, but was compared with other proandric species, e.g, biancae, briani and ianthinos, known from a neighboring area of timmianus type locality in the Eastern Cape. It is noteworthy that the presence of two rare characteristics, namely, location of spermathecae and their pores in segments anterior to testes, and irregularity in setal arrangements, are unique in South African microchaetid species and need more study.