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Issue: Vol. 5799 No. 3: 29 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-29
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5799.3.8
Page range: 573-584
Abstract views: 71
PDF downloaded: 5

Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) canchim sp. nov. and Fimoscolex bernardii sp. nov., two new earthworm species (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae) from São Paulo State, Brazil

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecossistemas Agrícolas e Naturais; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Curitibanos; Santa Catarina; Brazil; Centro de Ecologia Funcional; Departamento de Ciências da Vida; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra; Portugal
Universidade Federal do Paraná; Departamento de Ciência do Solo; Rua dos Funcionários; 1540; Juvevê; 80035-0050; Brazil
Universidade Federal do Paraná; Departamento de Ciência do Solo; Rua dos Funcionários; 1540; Juvevê; 80035-0050; Brazil; Embrapa Florestas; Estrada da Ribeira; Km 111; Caixa Postal 319; CEP 83411-000; Colombo-PR; Brazil
Crassiclitellata Oligochaeta Atlantic Forest Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest Systems Annelida

Abstract

Brazil harbors one of the richest earthworm faunas worldwide, yet a substantial portion of its diversity remains undescribed. In this study, two new species of Glossoscolecidae are described from the Canchim Farm, São Carlos, São Paulo State, Brazil. The species were collected in experimental areas of integrated forest-crop-livestock systems (agrosilvopastoral systems), and in annual crops under no-tillage management. One species belongs to the genus Fimoscolex and the other to the subgenus Glossoscolex in the genus Glossoscolex. Fimoscolex bernardii sp. nov. is characterized by a single male pore in segment XVII associated with a copulatory chamber and by the presence of a ventral ovisac extending from segment XII to XIV, a structure interpreted as part of the female reproductive apparatus. Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) canchim sp. nov. exhibits the diagnostic characters of the Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) truncatus group, including paired male pores in segment XVII associated with paired copulatory chambers, and differs from congeners mainly in size and shape of the calciferous glands and copulatory chambers and clitellar morphology. Comparative morphological data with closely related species are provided. The occurrence of these new species in managed agricultural systems highlights the relevance of sustainable land-use practices for the persistence of native soil fauna and reinforces the need for continued taxonomic and ecological studies of earthworms in southeastern Brazil.

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How to Cite

Bartz, M.L.C., Bruz, L.D.S.M. & Brown, G.G. (2026) Glossoscolex (Glossoscolex) canchim sp. nov. and Fimoscolex bernardii sp. nov., two new earthworm species (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae) from São Paulo State, Brazil. Zootaxa, 5799 (3), 573–584. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5799.3.8