DESCKIPTIONS OF NEW AB^RICAN EAETHWORMS, IN- 

 CLUDING A NEW GENUS OF MONILIGASTRIDAE. 



By Frank Smith and Bessie R. Green. 



Of the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 



The United States National Museum has a small collection of 

 earthworms made near Lamu on the eastern coast of British East 

 Africa. The collection was made by William Astor Chanler in 

 1892; and, besides several fragmentary specimens, contains seven 

 worms sufficiently complete for identification. 



These specimens though few in number are of much interest. Two 

 new species of Polytoreutus are represented, one by five individuals 

 and another by a single specimen. The remaining specimen repre- 

 sents a new genus of the family Moniligastridae. This is the first 

 known occurrence of this family in Africa; and, of still greater 

 interest, the new form has anatomical relations which ally it quite 

 closely with the Haplotaxid genus Pelodrilus and with the Megas- 

 colecid genus Acanthodrilus. It may reasonably be considered as a 

 modern representative of a very early, primitive type of earthworms. 



This paper forms No. 126 of the series of contributions from the 

 zoological laboratory of the University of Illinois. 



Family MONILIGASTRIDAE. 



Setae, simple pointed, sigmoid, four pair per somite. Clitellum on 

 three to six somites, including those bearing genital pores. Spermi- 

 ducal pores, one or two pair; in or near 10/11, 11/12, or 12/13. 

 Oviducal pores, one pair; in 11/12 or on 13 or 14. Spermathecal 

 pores, one or two pair in 7/8 or 8/9 or 7/8 and 8/9. Esophagus 

 with two gizzards anterior to 10 or two to ten gizzards at beginning 

 of intestine. Last " hearts," two somites anterior to ovarian somite. 

 Meganephric. Spermaries and spermiducal funnels, one or two pair ; 

 included in one or two pair of sperm vesicles. Sperm ducts open into 

 prostate glands or independently of them. Ovaries, one pair. 

 Ovisacs, one pair; extend posteriorly from posterior septum of 

 ovarian somite. Spermathecae, one or two pair; with long tubular 

 spermathecal ducts. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum. Vol. 55— No. 2263. 

 62055— 20— Proc.N.M.Vol.oo- — - 11 145 



