New South African Acanthodrilinae earthworm species, with new data for some earlier known members of the genus Parachilota (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae)

Abstract

Four acanthodriline species of the genus Parachilota, namely abebaios sp. n., nkandu sp. n., uysae sp. n., and timothyi sp. n., are described and illustrated. Additional information is given on the characters, geographical range and habitat of the earlier known six Parachilota species: editha, hottentotianus, karkloofi, minimus, wahlbergi, and warreni. The shape and number of spermathecal diverticula were considered as the diagnostic characters of studied species, and three species groups are recognized: unilobate, bilobate and multilobate. Species endemism is noted.