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INTERNAL FERTILIZATION AND THE FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE FEMALE AND SPERMATHECALSYSTEMS IN NEW EARTHWORMS FROM GHANA (EUDRILIDAE: OLIGOCHAETA)
Author(s) -
SIMS R. W.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1964.tb03883.x
Subject(s) - biology , oligochaeta (plant) , genus , appendage , zoology , earthworm , sucker , ecology
The morphology of the spermathecal system of a new genus of Eudrilid earthworm from south‐eastern Ghana is described and functional details are discussed. Interconnections are traced between the spermathecal and female systems and the mechanism is described which ensures that fertilization takes place in the middle region of the oviduct at a time other than during copulation. It is pointed out that the spermathecal system is probably mesodermal in origin instead of ectodermal which is usual in other families of Oligochaeta. The new genus is characterized by the presence of both an oesophageal and a series of intestinal gizzards and by paired oesophageal glands arising in segment xiv. Three species are described and may be distinguished by several characters. The more readily evident external differences are: the number of segments, form of the clitellum, position of the spermathecal pore and the presence (in one species) of copulatory appendages. The similarities and affinities of the genus with Hyperiodrilus Beddard are discussed. Itis admitted that it is expedient to accept the criteria of the current classification of the Eudrilidae until a full revision of the family can be carried out, so making necessary the erection of this new genus for the three species here described. A table is provided listing the distinguishing characters of the new species.