Zoological Systematics

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2026 , Vol. 51 >Issue 2: 95 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11865/zs.2026202

Original Article

Integrative taxonomy of three new Amynthas earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from southern China

  • Jing Sun ,
  • Jibao Jiang ,
  • Yang Dong ,
  • Jiangping Qiu ,
  • Dingyi Wang ,
  • Manqiang Liu
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  • 1School of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu 610031, China

    2School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China 

    3College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210014, China 

    4Centre for Grassland Microbiome, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China

Manqiang Liu 

Online published: 2026-04-24

Supported by

This work was funded by the National Science & Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China (2024FY100400) and its sub-project (2024FY100403_3).

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Abstract

Three new species of the earthworm genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata: Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) are described from southern China using an integrative taxonomic approach, which combines morphological traits and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene, namely Amynthas ganzhouensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangxi), A. redactus Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan), and A. yixingensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. (Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui). A. ganzhouensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. is assigned to the A. morrisi-group based on two pairs of spermathecal pores (sp) located at intersegments 5/6–6/7. A. redactus Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. is placed in the A. corticis-group, exhibiting four pairs of spermathecal pores at intersegments 5/6–8/9. A. yixingensis Sun & Jiang, sp. nov. exhibits intraspecific variation in the number and position of spermathecal pores: some populations conform to the A. sieboldi-group (three pairs of pores at 6/7–8/9), while others align with the A. corticis-group (four pairs at 5/6–8/9). Molecular analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene further confirm the distinct species status of these three taxa. These discoveries expand the known diversity of Amynthas in southern China.

Cite this article

Jing Sun , Jibao Jiang , Yang Dong , Jiangping Qiu , Dingyi Wang , Manqiang Liu . Integrative taxonomy of three new Amynthas earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from southern China[J]. Zoological Systematics, 2026 , 51(2) : 95 -109 . DOI: 10.11865/zs.2026202

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