Polychaetes and oligochaetes associated with intertidal rocky shores in a semi-enclosed industrial and urban embayment, with the description of two new species

The species composition and relative abundance of the annelid benthic macrofauna (Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) inhabiting the rocky intertidal zone of the ria of Ferrol (Galicia, NW Spain) were studied during field collections, from 2000 to 2002. A total of 14,619 specimens (11,585 polychaetes belonging to 76 species and 24 families and 3,034 oligochaetes belonging to 18 species and two families) were collected from 98 quantitative samples taken from 13 sampling sites. The general spatial distribution of the annelid fauna reflects an increase of the diversity from the inner to the outer part of the ria. The general patterns found in the annelid composition suggest that the assemblages were dominated by oligochaetes in the inner sheltered sampling sites and polychaetes in the outer more exposed sites. Several faunistical and taxonomical remarks on selected species are presented. Two new species of oligochaetes are described: Coralliodrilus artabrensis sp. n. and Pirodrilus fungithecatus sp. n. (Naididae, Phallodrilinae). A new biological index, based on the oligochaete/polychaete ratio (O/P), is proposed as tool to evaluate environmental quality and to monitor future changes in the environment.Xunta de Galicia. CGL2004-04680-C10-02Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. CGL.2006-1341

Asignaturas con resultados anómalos en la Universidad: Causas y alternativas de gestión

Los resultados anómalos  (i.e.  suspensos  masivos,  aprobados  generales…)  afectan  de lleno al  corazón mismo  de la  educación   universitaria   y  pueden  acarrear   problemas  de tanta gravedad  como el abandono  de los estudios por parte  de numerosos estudiantes que pierden injustamente  sus   becas  y  tienen  que hacer  frente   a un coste  del crédito  muy elevado  en segundas y posteriores matrículas.Al abordar  el tema de las asignaturas  con resultados anómalos, nuestro objetivo no es otro que el de contribuir a atajar  esta vieja  lacra  que aún hoy sigue afectando  gravemente  a centenares de alumnos y alumnas cada curso en muchas de nuestras universidades. Partimos de la base de que las responsabilidades sobre la calidad  de la docencia y de la evaluación  de los resultados que  se obtienen en cada materia  recaen no sólo en el profesorado encargado de su impartición, sino también, y en gran medida, en muy diversos órganos y comisiones.Sobre los máximos  órganos de gobierno de las universidades y, especialmente, en sus Consejos de Gobierno,  recae buena  parte  de la responsabilidad sobre la nor mativa   que afecta a  la  organización     docente   y  al  control  de los   procesos   de calidad, y  en   los centros   y departamentos     se      substancian    aspectos    de  tanta   importancia  como  la elaboración   y aprobación  de los planes de estudio, el control  inmediato  de los resultados y la propuesta de medidas correctoras para su mejora.El núcleo de este  estudio lo constituye un diagnóstico sobre cómo se está  abordando la cuestión   de los  resultados   anómalos en nuestras universidades, sobre las causas y factores que influyen en tales resultados y sobre las responsabilidades  de los órganos  de gobierno  en la prevención,    control y propuestas   de mejora. El trabajo  se cierra con un conjunto de propuestas  fruto del análisis y el debate en el seno de la CEDU

Oligochaetes from underground waters of Oman with descriptions of two new species of Phreodrilidae (Oligochaeta): Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.

The study of twenty-nine oligochaete samples collected in 1996 by J. H. Stock and J. J. Vermeulen (University of Amsterdam), in the Sultanate of Oman, allowed us to draw up an initial inventory of the freshwater oligochaete fauna of the Arabian peninsula, a fauna totally unknown until now. The 147 specimens examined belong to nine species of four families: Phreodrilidae, Naididae, Tubificidae and Enchytraeidae. The Phreodrilidae (2 species) represent more than half of the total specimens; whilst the rest belong mainly to the Naididae. Two new species of Phreodrilidae (Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.) are described. Both belong to the subfamily Phreodrilinae, until now not reported from north of the tropic of Capricorn. Other identified species include Dero (Dero) zeylanica, Allonais paraguayensis and Doliodrilus puertoricensis, which are for the first time recorded in subterranean habitats. These studies confirm the hypothesis of the presence of Phreodrilidae in the Arabian peninsula as relict taxa inhabiting refuges in hyporheic/groundwater habitats. The presence of an oligochaete fauna with marine phyletic affinities in underground waters already highlighted in Europe now equally applies to the Arabian peninsula with the discovery of the tubificid genera Aktedrilus and Doliodrilus in the underground habitats of Oman. As these genera already are well known from the littoral marine or brackish water with a wide range of salinity, we have additional evidence that the migration of interstitial marine meiobenthic tubificid species through water of decreasing salinity may be a way of colonising the subterranean freshwaters. The present record of Doliodrilus puertoricensis (Limnodriloidinae), previously known from Puerto Rico and Belize in the western Atlantic Ocean, represents a large extension of its known distribution area

Parvidrilus gianii Martínez-Ansemil, Châtelliers, Martin & Sambugar, 2012, SP. NOV.

PARVIDRILUS GIANII MARTÍNEZ- ANSEMIL & SAMBUGAR SP. NOV. (FIG. 5) Types: Holotype. MNCN 16.03 /3071, mature specimen, stained in paracarmine and whole-mounted in Canada balsam. Seldesuto cave (43°18′21.0′′N, 3°37′34.5′′W, 192 m asl), Matienzo, Cantabria, Spain, 2.ix.2002, leg. Ana Camacho. Paratype. MNCN 16.03 /3072, immature specimen from type locality, 2.ix.2002, leg. Ana Camacho, stained in paracarmine and whole-mounted in Canada balsam. Etymology: Named after Narcisse Giani ‘maître et ami’, to whom many European oligochaetologists are very much indebted. Description: Entire mature worm, length 1.2 mm, 26 segments, width 40 Mm at V, 42 Mm XII. Prostomium rounded, 15 Mm long, 25 Mm wide at base. Body wall thin (especially in dorsal part), unpapillated; foreign particles adhering to cuticle here and there along the body. Numerous transversal rows of thin cutaneous glands per segment. Clitellum not elevated, occupying at least XII- XIII. Dorsal (dorsolateral) and ventral (ventrolateral) setae present from III and posteriorly situated in each segment. Dorsal bundles with two (three) straight, thin single-pointed needles (20–28 Mm long) and one or two long, thin, and flexible hair setae (105–190 Mm long) (Fig. 5A, B, h, n). Ventral bundles composed of (one) two–three (four) strongly curved crotchets, 20–26 Mm long, with enlarged distal half and doublepronged tip with minute distal tooth (Fig. 5A–C, cr); one thin hair seta (60–90 Mm long) in preclitellar ventral bundles of III–VI. No modified genital setae; a single bifid crochet in ventral bundles of segment XII. No eyes. Brain long, extending into segment IV, deeply incised posteriorly. Ventral nerve cord in contact with epidermis, beneath muscles of the body wall. Most setigeral segments have a mid-dorsal glandular pouch opening posteriorly on each segment, at about the transversal setal line; glandular pouches absent from IV–VI. Digestive tract complete, entirely ciliated and ending in a terminal anus. An eversible pharynx, with small dorsal pad set off from oesophagus, followed by a narrow, thick walled winding tube extending into IX, with thick muscular walls at about VII–IX; alimentary canal completed by a gut clearly enlarged and filled in with sediment posteriorly from segment XIII (Fig. 5E, F, g). Compact pharyngeal glands present in IV–VI. Digestive tract surrounded from V by a well-developed layer of chloragogen cells. Coelomocytes and nephridia not observed. No compact testes attached to septum but free germ cells and morulae floating in the coelomic cavity of segment XI (Fig. 5A, mo). Two small sperm funnels opening in ventral part of septum XI/XII and continuing into very thin vasa deferentia (1.5-2 Mm wide), very likely to be long and tightly folded, entering atria basally (Fig. 5A, F, f, vd). Atria elongate (about 150 Mm long, 14–16 Mm wide), extending in segments XII- XIII, curling anteriad (Fig. 5A, C–F, a 1, a 2), merging below the nerve cord and a thick muscular arch (Fig. 5A, E, ma, nc) into a common ejaculatory duct with cuticular walls, and opening on tip of a mid-ventral porophore located somewhat anterior to the transversal setal line of segment XII (Fig. 5A, F, c, mp, p). Atria made up by outer thin muscular layer (<1 Mm thick) and thick lining of vacuolated tissue, with indistinct lumen, except at the most basal portion, where the lumen is large and epithelial cells are finely granulated. Sparse unordered sperm embedded into vacuolated cells all along atria. Prostate glands absent. Two small ovaries with maturing eggs attached to septum 11/12 (Fig. 5A, F, o). Two small oviducts seemingly attached to septum 12/13 (Fig. 5A, od). A single spermatheca present in XIII. Spermathecal ampulla (empty) ovoid (30 Mm long, 9 Mm high), with a nucleated epithelial wall surrounded by a thick muscular lining; spermathecal duct about 13 Mm long, as a loosely defined structure, without lumen, basally enlarged, in continuity with the ventral body wall at the most anterior part of segment XIII, in a somewhat lateral position, at the left side of the worm (Fig. 5A, D–E, sa, sd). Remarks: The combination of long atria, a single spermatheca in segment XIII, and the cuticular wall of the common ejaculatory duct characterize P. gianii sp. nov. Amongst the three Parvidrilus species that have a single spermatheca in segment XIII, P. gianii is easily distinguishable from the others by its ovoid spermathecal ampulla surrounded by a thick muscular lining, and elongated atria (ten times longer than wide). The cuticular wall of the ejaculatory duct of this new species is unique amongst the genus. Distribution and habitat: Parvidrilus gianii is known only from the type locality, the Seldesuto cave, Matienzo, Cantabria, Spain. The species was sampled at 100 m from the entrance, along the shore of the lake, by stirring up rocks and sand covered by about 25 cm of water. The depth of the lake deepens very quickly a short distance from the shore; the gallery ends in a siphon.Published as part of Martínez-Ansemil, Enrique, Châtelliers, Michel Creuzé Des, Martin, Patrick & Sambugar, Beatrice, 2012, The Parvidrilidae - a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe, and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida), pp. 530-558 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (3) on pages 540-542, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00857.x, http://zenodo.org/record/540898

Parvidrilus stochi Martínez-Ansemil & Châtelliers & Martin & Sambugar 2012, SP. NOV.

PARVIDRILUS STOCHI SAMBUGAR & MARTÍNEZ- ANSEMIL SP. NOV. (FIG. 6) Types: Holotype. VRO1003, mature specimen unstained, whole-mounted in Canada balsam. Monte Majore cave (40°30′47′′N, 8°36′33′′E), Thiesi, Sardinia, Italy, 26.vi.2008, leg. Fabio Stoch, Gianfranco Tomasin, Beatrice Sambugar, Paolo Marcia. Other material examined: One partially mature specimen, stained in paracarmine and whole-mounted in Canada balsam, from type locality, 17.iii.2005, leg. Fabio Stoch, Gianfranco Tomasin, Jos Notenboom. Two immature specimens, stained in paracarmine and whole-mounted in Canada balsam, from type locality, 8.ix.2006, leg. Fabio Stoch, Paolo Marcia. Etymology: Named after our friend Fabio Stoch, for his important contributions to the knowledge of European subterranean fauna. Description: Entire mature worms, length 1.2 mm, 28 segments, width 45 Mm at V, 55 Mm at XII. Prostomium rounded, 15 Mm long, 29 Mm wide at base. Body wall thin (especially in dorsal part), unpapillated; foreign particles adhering to cuticle along the body, but neither dense nor continuous. Numerous transversal rows of thin cutaneous glands per segment. Clitellum weakly developed (about XI- XIII), but some large cells observed in XII and XIII (Fig 6C, cl). Dorsal (dorsolateral) and ventral (ventrolateral) setae present from III, posteriorly situated in each segment. Dorsal bundles with two (three) straight, thin single-pointed needles (20–28 Mm long) and one (two) long, thin and flexible hair setae (115–200 Mm long) (Fig. 6A–C, h, n). Ventral bundles with (one) two–three (four) strongly curved crotchets, 20–27 Mm long, with enlarged distal half and double-pronged tip with minute distal tooth (Fig. 6A–C, cr), and accompanied by one thin hair seta (95–110 Mm long) only present in preclitellar ventral bundles III- VIII. No modified genital setae; ventral bundles of segment XII with three bifid crochets. No eyes. Brain long, extending into segment IV, deeply incised posteriorly. Ventral nerve cord in contact with epidermis, beneath muscles of the body wall. Most setigeral segments with a mid-dorsal glandular pouch opening posteriorly on each segment, on or immediately adjacent to the transversal setal line; glandular pouches absent from IV- VI. Digestive tract complete, entirely ciliated, ending in a terminal anus. An eversible pharynx, with small dorsal pad set off from oesophagus, followed by a narrow, winding tube, extending into IX, with thick muscular walls at about VII- IX; alimentary canal completed by a gut beginning in X, enlarged and filled in with sediment from segment XV (Fig. 6D–F, g). Compact pharyngeal glands present in IV- VI. Digestive tract surrounded by a well-developed layer of chloragogen cells from V. Coelomocytes and nephridia not observed. No compact testes attached to septum, but many free germ cells and morulae floating in the coelomic cavity of segment XI and in the most posterior and anterior parts of X and XII, respectively (Fig. 6A, E, mo). Sperm funnels and vasa deferentia not observed. Atria very elongate (about 250 Mm long), twisted, tubular, with a diameter slightly decreasing from the proximal to the distal end (20–15 Mm), extending in segments XII –XIV (Fig. 6A, D–F, a 1, a 2), merging below the nerve cord and opening on the tip of a mid-ventral porophore located between the two ventral setal bundles of segment XII (Fig. 6A, D, E, ed, ma, mp, p). Atria made up by extremely thin (muscular?) outer layer and thick lining of vacuolated tissue, with indistinct lumen, except at the most basal portion, where the lumen is large and the epithelial cells are finely granulated. Space occupied by vacuolated cells seemingly progressively replaced by sperm (about two thirds of atrial length of the holotype and only a very small part of atria of the maturing specimen collected in March 2005). Prostate glands absent. Two ovaries attached to septum 11/12 (poorly visible) (Fig. 6A, o). A single egg sac containing mature eggs extending into segment XV (Fig. 6A, e). Two small oviducts seemingly attached to septum 12/13. A single spermatheca present in XII. Spermathecal ampulla ovoid (33 Mm long, 10 Mm high), thin walled, followed by a conical, bent duct (about 20 Mm long), without clear cut off from ampulla, thin walled distally, and proximally constituted by a loosely defined tissue ending close to male pore, in an anterior and somewhat lateral position, on left side of the worm. Ampulla and distal part of spermathecal duct full of spermatozoids (Fig. 6A, D, sa, sd). Remarks: Parvidrilus stochi sp. nov. is one of the three Parvidrilus species known so far that have a single spermatheca in segment XII and are devoid of genital setae. The most outstanding features of P. stochi sp. nov. are the very long, wide, and twisted atria (15 times longer than wide), combined with a spermatheca in the atrial segment that has a large spermathecal duct distally constituted by a loosely defined tissue. The ovoid shape of the spermatheca of this new species is only comparable to that of P. gianii. Distribution and habitat: Parvidrilus stochi is known only from the type locality in the Monte Majore cave (Sardinia, Italy). The cave opens in a small, isolated Miocene limestone outcrop rising from a volcanic plateau dating from the Oligocene- Miocene volcanism. The upper level of the cave is fossilized and percolating waters are collected in pools on clay and rock; the lower gallery is crossed by a small brook, which collects the waters sinking from a small valley at the entrance of the cave.Published as part of Martínez-Ansemil, Enrique, Châtelliers, Michel Creuzé Des, Martin, Patrick & Sambugar, Beatrice, 2012, The Parvidrilidae - a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe, and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida), pp. 530-558 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (3) on pages 542-544, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00857.x, http://zenodo.org/record/540898

Parvidrilus spelaeus Martinez-Ansemil, Sambugar & Giani 2002

&lt;i&gt;PARVIDRILUS SPELAEUS&lt;/i&gt; MART&Iacute;NEZ- ANSEMIL, SAMBUGAR &amp; GIANI, 2002 &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;New material:&lt;/i&gt; Mine of Ponte Vajo Falconi, Italy (PASCALIS LES 060; 10&deg;59&prime;07&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;39&prime;36&prime;&prime;N), pools of percolating water, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., one specimen; Bus del Cao cave, Italy (PASCALIS LES 001; 10&deg;54&prime;48&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;35&prime;36&prime;&prime;N), subterranean brook, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., two specimens; Buso del Progno cave, Italy (PASCALIS LES 003; 10&deg;55&prime;02&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;36&prime;28&prime;&prime;N), subterranean brook, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., one specimen; Covolo della Croce cave, Italy (PASCALIS LES 099; 11&deg;07&prime;16&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;36&prime;43&prime;&prime;N), rimstone pools, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., one specimen; Monte Capriolo cave, Italy (PASCALIS LES 195; 11&deg;04&prime;52&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;35&prime;38&prime;&prime;N), rimstone pools, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., four specimens; Buso della Volpe cave, Italy (PASCALIS LES 149; 11&deg;12&prime;52&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;36&prime;48&prime;&prime;N), small pools in gravel, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., two specimens; Montorio, via del Lanificio, Italy (PASCALIS LES 131; 11&deg;03&prime;59&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;27&prime;34&prime;&prime;N), hyporheic site, Bou-Rouch pump, 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Stoch F., Tomasin G., two specimens; spring near Jelenska jama, Slovenia (PAS- CALIS KRI 097; 14&deg;21&prime;19&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;55&prime;05&prime;&prime;N) 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Brancelj A., one specimen; spring near &Zcaron;umerju, Slovenia (PASCALIS KRI 005; 14&deg;35&prime;47&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;53&prime;16&prime;&prime;N), 2002, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Brancelj A., one specimen; Pajsarjeva cave, Slovenia; (14&deg;15&prime;56&prime;&prime;E; 45&deg;59&prime;52&prime;&prime;N), subterranean brook, 2009, &lt;i&gt;leg&lt;/i&gt;. Gasparo F., Sambugar B., two specimens.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Description:&lt;/i&gt; The new material of &lt;i&gt;P. spelaeus&lt;/i&gt; enables us to confirm the attachment of the spermathecal duct to the anterior part of segment XIII, and very thin vasa deferentia joining atria proximally. The so-called diffuse prostate surrounding the atria referred to in Mart&iacute;nez-Ansemil &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;. (2002: fig. 12) is now interpreted as a large peritoneal layer, not observed in fully developed individuals.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;COI sequence:&lt;/i&gt; EMBL accession number: HE800202 (Pisoliti cave, Trieste, Italy).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Distribution and habitat:&lt;/i&gt; Presently, the known distribution of &lt;i&gt;P. spelaeus&lt;/i&gt; is limited to the Alpine district of northern Italy and extends into the Slovenian Dinaric region, where it was found in several phreatic and hyporheic habitats: from small pools of percolating water to streamlets and in cave lakes, springs, and rock aquifers (see also Mart&iacute;nez-Ansemil &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;., 2002).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Martínez-Ansemil, Enrique, Châtelliers, Michel Creuzé Des, Martin, Patrick &amp; Sambugar, Beatrice, 2012, The Parvidrilidae - a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe, and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida), pp. 530-558 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (3)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 546-547, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00857.x, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5408987"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/5408987&lt;/a&gt

The groundwater oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) of Slovenia

Historical data on the biodiversity of oligochaetes inhabiting ground waters of Slovenia depicted a fauna of 25 species, 19 of which are stygobiotic. Over about the last 35 years, faunistic surveys carried out in Slovenian ground waters has enabled us to conduct extensive studies on the oligochaete fauna of this environment. Three primary sources of information have been integrated to summarize in this paper: a campaign in Slovenian caves conducted by Fabio Stoch, a large collection of groundwater fauna made available to us by Boris Sket, and samples collected during the European project PASCALIS. The data derived from the examination of this large amount of material has enabled us to broaden our knowledge of the oligochaete diversity of Slovenia, increasing the number of species to one hundred, and has allowed us to summarize the biological diversity in Slovenian waters to be a substantial percentage of the known diversity present elsewhere in Europe. Endemic, rare and new species constitute a remarkable proportion of the stygobiotic oligochaete fauna. Among these, species of the genera Trichodrilus, Rhyacodrilus, Rhyacodriloides, Parvidrilus, Epirodrilus and Abyssidrilus are some of the most noteworthy taxa because of their endemicity, range-size, rarity, habitat selection, and/or taxonomic isolation (including phylogenetic relictuality)

Parvidrilus tomasini Martínez-Ansemil & Châtelliers & Martin & Sambugar 2012, SP. NOV.

&lt;i&gt;PARVIDRILUS TOMASINI&lt;/i&gt; SAMBUGAR &amp; MART&Iacute;NEZ- ANSEMIL SP. NOV. (FIG. 7) &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Types:&lt;/i&gt; Holotype. MCSNVRO1004, entire mature specimen, stained in paracarmine and mounted in Canada balsam. Sa Ucca de su Tintirriolu cave (40&deg;27&prime;08&prime;&prime;N, 8&deg;39&prime;15&prime;&prime;E) Siniscola, Sardinia, Italy, 17.iii.2005, &lt;i&gt;leg.&lt;/i&gt; Gianfranco Tomasin, Fabio Stoch, Jos Notenboom.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Etymology:&lt;/i&gt; Named after Gianfranco Tomasin, for his important contribution to the knowledge of Italian cave ecosystems.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;NEW EUROPEAN SPECIES OF PARVIDRILIDAE 545&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Description:&lt;/i&gt; Entire mature worm, length 1.2 mm, 24 segments, width 45 Mm at VI, 55 Mm at XII. Prostomium rounded, 15 Mm long, 29 Mm wide at base. Body wall thin (especially in dorsal part), unpapillated; foreign particles adhering to cuticle here and there along body. Numerous transversal rows of thin cutaneous glands per segment. Clitellum weakly developed (about XI- XIII), except for two prominent pads comprising a few cells on lateral sides in XII, just anterior to the transversal setal line (Fig. 7G, cl).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Dorsal (dorsolateral) and ventral (ventrolateral) setae present from III and posteriorly situated on each segment. Dorsal bundles with two (three) straight, thin single-pointed needles (22&ndash;29 Mm long) and one long, thin, and flexible hair setae (120&ndash; 200 Mm long) (Fig. 7A&ndash;C, h, n). Ventral bundles composed of two- three strongly curved crotchets, 20&ndash;26 Mm long, with enlarged distal half and doublepronged tip with minute distal tooth, and accompanied by one thin hair seta (95&ndash;135 Mm long) only present in III- XI (Fig. 7A&ndash;C, G, h, cr). No modified genital setae; ventral bundles of segment XII with a single bifid crochet.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;No eyes. Brain long, extending into segment IV, deeply incised posteriorly. Ventral nerve cord in contact with epidermis, beneath muscles of the body wall. Most setigeral segments with a mid-dorsal glandular pouch opening posteriorly on each segment, on about the transversal setal line; glandular pouches absent from IV- VI.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Digestive tract complete, entirely ciliated. An eversible pharynx, with small dorsal pad set off from oesophagus, followed by a narrow, winding tube extending into IX, with thick muscular walls at about VII- VIII; alimentary canal completed by a gut containing sediment, clearly enlarged from segment XIV (Fig. 7E, g). Compact pharyngeal glands present in IV- VI. Digestive tract surrounded by a welldeveloped layer of chloragogen cells from V. Coelomocytes and nephridia not observed.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Two somewhat disaggregated testes attached to septum 10/11 (Fig. 7A, t). A few free germ cells and morulae floating in the coelomic cavity of segment XI and in the most anterior part of XII (Fig. 7A, mo). Sperm funnels hardly observed (Fig. 7A, f). Vasa deferentia seemingly present as very thin (about 1.5 Mm wide), long and tightly folded ducts in XII (Fig. 7A, E, vd). Atria elongate (about 150 Mm long), tubular (15&ndash;22 Mm wide), extending into segments XII- XIII, merging below the nerve cord and opening on the tip of a mid-ventral pore (in a small porophore?) located between ventral setal bundles of segment XII (Fig. 7A, D, a 1, a 2, ed). Atria made up by an outer thin muscular layer &lt;1.5 Mm thick, and a nucleated epithelial layer, limited to the proximal and most distal parts of atrial wall. Atrial lumen filled in by a granular material (secretions?, remains of old epithelial cells?), and with a large amount of spermatozoids, their heads orientated towards the distal atrial end, and their long flagella orientated towards the proximal atrial end, with a clear flamigerous aspect (Fig. 7C&ndash;F, gm, sp). Prostate glands absent. Two small ovaries with maturing eggs attached to septum 11/12 (Fig. 7A, F, o). A mature egg observed in XIV (Fig. 7A, e). Oviducts not observed. A single spermatheca present in XII. Spermathecal ampulla tubular (35 Mm long, about 10 Mm wide), thin walled, and obliquely orientated towards the posterodorsal part of the segment; ampulla followed by a conical, bent duct (about 20 Mm long), beginning with a thick epithelium delimiting a wide lumen, and then tapering, with the lumen becoming very narrow, and ending in a minute pore in an anterior and somewhat lateral position, on left side of the worm. Ampulla full of spermatozoids (Fig. 7A, C, D, sa, sd).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Remarks: Parvidrilus tomasini&lt;/i&gt; sp. nov. is a species with long atria (about eight times longer than wide), and a single spermatheca located in the atrial segment. The most characteristic anatomical features of this species are the tubular shape of the spermathecal ampulla and the well-defined, narrow spermathecal duct. Compared with the other two species that have a spermatheca in segment XII, the atria of &lt;i&gt;P. tomasini&lt;/i&gt; are considerably shorter than those of &lt;i&gt;P. stochi&lt;/i&gt; and longer than those of &lt;i&gt;P. strayeri&lt;/i&gt; (see Ers&eacute;us, 1999, and remarks below).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Distribution and habitat: Parvidrilus tomasini&lt;/i&gt; is known only from the type locality in the Sa Ucca de su Tintirriolu cave (Sardinia, Italy). The cave occurs in an isolated Miocene limestone area surrounded by volcanic rocks of the same age. A small brook runs through the lower gallery in contact with the basaltic floor.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Martínez-Ansemil, Enrique, Châtelliers, Michel Creuzé Des, Martin, Patrick &amp; Sambugar, Beatrice, 2012, The Parvidrilidae - a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe, and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida), pp. 530-558 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (3)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 544-546, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00857.x, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5408987"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/5408987&lt;/a&gt

Parvidrilidae Erseus 1999

OTHER PARVIDRILIDAE &lt;p&gt;Several other specimens from three localities (below) appear to be parvidrilids and have unique characters supporting their consideration as new species. Unfortunately, they cannot be identified or classified until additional material has been collected.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Slovenia, phreatic zone of the Podlip&scaron;&ccaron;ica valley, (PASCALIS KRI 187; 45&deg;59&prime;34&Prime;N, 14&deg;15&prime;01&Prime;E). One single specimen. Atria and spermatheca in XII, atria very large and globular, filling whole of segment.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Slovenia, Pajsarjeva cave, 1997. One specimen characterized by very long atria reaching 13/14, with a thin wall and full of spermatozoids. Spermathecae not seen because of the poor preservation of the specimen.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Italy, Tondello spring, Verona (PASCALIS LES 129: 45&deg;27&prime;52&Prime;N, 11&deg;03&prime;55&Prime;E). One broken specimen with very long atria.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Martínez-Ansemil, Enrique, Châtelliers, Michel Creuzé Des, Martin, Patrick &amp; Sambugar, Beatrice, 2012, The Parvidrilidae - a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe, and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida), pp. 530-558 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (3)&lt;/i&gt; on page 548, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00857.x, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5408987"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/5408987&lt;/a&gt