New species of Glossoscolex and Fimoscolex earthworms (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes

Brazil exhibits remarkable biodiversity, with an estimated presence of over one thousand earthworm species, of which 71% remain undescribed. Here, we describe seven new species of earthworms belonging to the family Glossoscolecidae, discovered in areas of native vegetation, annual crops under no-tillage and no-tillage system and pastures across three regions of Brazil. Two additional possible new species were represented by too few specimens and, therefore, were not formally described.

For these, we provide a diagnosis based on external and internal structures to be further evaluated when additional individuals are collected. The earthworm specimens were collected utilizing quantitative and qualitative methodologies.Among the species found, seven belong to the genus Glossoscolex: Glossoscolex arnsi sp. nov., Glossoscolex alessioi sp. nov., Glossoscolex dallavecchiai sp. nov., Glossoscolex debortolii sp. nov., Glossoscolex strobeli sp. nov., Glossoscolex fuchsi sp. nov., and Glossoscolex sp. 77.

The other two belong to the genus Fimoscolex: Fimoscolex fridrichi sp. nov., and Fimoscolex sp. 51. With the exception of G. strobeli sp. nov., belonging to the Glossoscolex bergi group (characterized by intraclittelar male pores located in segments XXI /XXII), the remaining Glossoscolex species belong to the G. truncatus group, with intraclittelar male pores in segment XVII. The species F. fridrichi sp. nov. presents a notable characteristic in the absence of a copulatory bulb, despite possessing a male pore in segment XVII.

A comparative table is provided, delineating similarities and differences between the newly described species and some previously documented species within the same genera.