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BERJAYA
Issue: Vol. 5853 No. 3: 22 Jul. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-07-22
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5853.3.4
Page range: 365-380
Abstract views: 50
PDF downloaded: 4

New stygobitic oligochaetes in Spanish groundwaters (Clitellata, Annelida)

Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology; Faculty of Science and Technology; University of Basque Country. Sarriena; 48940 Leioa; Spain
Annelida Rhyacodrilus Aberrantidrilus Lezadrilus gen. nov karst groundwater Iberian Peninsula biogeography

Abstract

Recent surveys of cave groundwater and resurgences suggest a rich oligochaete fauna associated with karst areas in the Basque Country and Cantabria (northern Spain). These regions have been studied at different times across the last four decades, and the new data have revealed that the number of stygobitic species has not yet reached a plateau. The rhyacodriline species Rhyacodrilus thalia sp. nov. is devoid of hair chaetae, exhibits modified spermathecal and penial chaetae, and appears to be related (based on the morphology) to other groundwater Rhyacodrilus Bretscher species from the southwestern Europe. Two new phallodriline species are assigned to Aberrantidrilus Martin and to the new genus Lezadrilus. Aberrantidrilus beruetei sp. nov. shows unusually small penial chaetae for the genus, and the spermathecal pore is in the most anterior part of the postatrial segment. Lezadrilus ainarae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed as new genus due to a combination of characters, among which the morphology and arrangement of the variously shaped and sized penial chaetae, the spermathecal morphology, and the dorso-lateral position of the spermathecal pores are diagnostic. New records of Gianius camachoae Martínez-Ansemil are also provided.

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How to Cite

Rodriguez, P. (2026) New stygobitic oligochaetes in Spanish groundwaters (Clitellata, Annelida). Zootaxa, 5853 (3), 365–380. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5853.3.4