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Issue: Vol. 5839 No. 1: 26 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-26
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5839.1.8
Page range: 167-176
Abstract views: 65
PDF downloaded: 3

New species of earthworms from the genera Holoscolex and Glossodrilus (Crassiclitellata) in the Eastern Amazon

Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the Legal Amazon – BIONORTE; Maranhão State University (UEMA); Avenida Lourenço Vieira da Silva 1000; Jardim São Cristovão; 65055-310 São Luís; Maranhão; Brazil.
Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences; Maranhão State University (UEMA); Avenida Lourenço Vieira da Silva 1000; Jardim São Cristovão; 65055-310 São Luís; Maranhão; Brazil.
Maharishi International University; Fairfield; IA 52557; United States.
Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation; Maranhão State University (UFMA); Avenida Lourenço Vieira da Silva 1000; Jardim São Cristovão; 65055-310 São Luís; Maranhão; Brazil.
Laboratory for the Study of Invertebrates; Maranhão State University; 65604-380; Caxias; Maranhão; Brazil.
Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the Legal Amazon – BIONORTE; Maranhão State University (UEMA); Avenida Lourenço Vieira da Silva 1000; Jardim São Cristovão; 65055-310 São Luís; Maranhão; Brazil.; Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation; Avenida Lourenço Vieira da Silva 1000; Jardim São Cristovão; 65055-310 São Luís; Maranhão; Brazil.
Annelida Annelids Glossoscolecidae Invertebrates Gurupi Brazil

Abstract

We describe two new species of the earthworm genera Holoscolex and Glossodrilus from the Gurupi Biological Reserve, Maranhão State, Brazil. This reserve represents one of the last wild refuges of the Belém Endemism Area, the most deforested and threatened region of the Brazilian Amazon. Holoscolex contractilis sp. nov. belongs to a selected group of this genus characterized by intraclitellar atrial glands, and it is unique in having two pairs of spermathecae in segments 7 and 8, with atrial glands adjacent in 8 and 9, and free testes in segment 11. Glossodrilus rubra sp. nov. remains among the Glossodrilus species with two pairs of spermathecae in segments 8 and 9, but differs from its congeners by the position of the spermathecal openings in CD line and aquadrangular body at tail.

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How to Cite

Hernández-García, L.M., Beckman, R.A.F.S., James, S.W., Sousa, S.C., Limeira-De-Oliveira, F. & Rousseau, G.X. (2026) New species of earthworms from the genera Holoscolex and Glossodrilus (Crassiclitellata) in the Eastern Amazon. Zootaxa, 5839 (1), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5839.1.8