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Micrograph of Enchytraeus adrianensis sp. nov. A-D, I-J. In vivo. E-H, K-L. Fixed, stained. A. Brain (small aggregations of refractile globules marked with arrows). B. Chaetae in a ventral bundles with 3 surplus chaetae. C. Clitellar glands in regular rows. D. Clitellar glands in reticulate pattern. E. Paratype (slide 2748, P.143.3, ELTE). F. Slide 2684 (ELTE). H. Slide 2761 (ELTE). K. Paratype (slide 2851, P.143.10, ELTE). L. Paratype (slide 2760, P.143.6). E-F. Clitellar glands, ventral view (male copulatory organs marked with black arrow, between these organs the granulocytes marked with white arrows). G. Paratype (slide 2856, P.143.15, ELTE), first pharyngeal glands free dorsally. H. All pharyngeal glands connected dorsally (spermathecae marked with arrows). I-K. Coelomocytes (in J the small hyaline, refracting corpuscules also present). L. Large paired lobes of sperm sacs. Scale bars: A-I, K-L = 50 μm; J = 20 μm.
Source publication
Between 2019 and 2021, samplings were carried out from seashores in Italy and Croatia, where specimens were found morphologically similar to the species of the Enchytraeus albidus complex. The taxon Enchytraeus albidus was recently divided into a number of separate species, and the new Italian and Croatian specimens of Enchytraeus proved to be thre...
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... × 5-7.5 μm posteriorly. In ventral preclitellar bundles of some specimens 3 chaetae, and only one or two bundles with 4 chaetae, in other specimens 4 chaetae in most of all other bundles. Often 2-3 surplus chaetae near the bundles ( ClitelluM. Girdle-shaped, in XII-XIII, hyalocytes and granulocytes in dense transverse rows dorsally and laterally (Fig. 2C), but in well-developed sexual condition gland cells in reticulate pattern (Fig. 2D). Mostly only granulocytes between male pores ( Fig. ...
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... and only one or two bundles with 4 chaetae, in other specimens 4 chaetae in most of all other bundles. Often 2-3 surplus chaetae near the bundles ( ClitelluM. Girdle-shaped, in XII-XIII, hyalocytes and granulocytes in dense transverse rows dorsally and laterally (Fig. 2C), but in well-developed sexual condition gland cells in reticulate pattern (Fig. 2D). Mostly only granulocytes between male pores ( Fig. ...
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... 4 chaetae in most of all other bundles. Often 2-3 surplus chaetae near the bundles ( ClitelluM. Girdle-shaped, in XII-XIII, hyalocytes and granulocytes in dense transverse rows dorsally and laterally (Fig. 2C), but in well-developed sexual condition gland cells in reticulate pattern (Fig. 2D). Mostly only granulocytes between male pores ( Fig. ...
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... About 1.3-1.8 × as long as wide, rounded posteriorly, sides slightly merging anteriad often with 2 small aggregations of refractile globules ( Fig. ...
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... appendages. Pair of blind-ending tubes in III / IV, with common root inserting dorsally behind pharyngeal pad. Mostly all primary pharyngeal glands widely or slightly connected dorsally with ventral lobes (Fig. 2H). In some specimens first pair separate (Fig. 2G). Ventral lobes of third pair ...
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... appendages. Pair of blind-ending tubes in III / IV, with common root inserting dorsally behind pharyngeal pad. Mostly all primary pharyngeal glands widely or slightly connected dorsally with ventral lobes (Fig. 2H). In some specimens first pair separate (Fig. 2G). Ventral lobes of third pair ...
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... Oval or narrowed at one end, texture granulated, about 24-40 μm long, in vivo ( Fig. 2I-J) [15-30 μm, fixed (Fig. 2K)]. In addition, many shining, hyaline, round or tetragonal corpuscles [diameter (10-19 μm)] also present ( Fig. 2J), which at lower magnification shine like grains of sand. In young specimens corpuscles always fewer. Note, corpuscles not visible after fixation. suBneural glands. Absent. saCs. Two or three ...
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... Oval or narrowed at one end, texture granulated, about 24-40 μm long, in vivo ( Fig. 2I-J) [15-30 μm, fixed (Fig. 2K)]. In addition, many shining, hyaline, round or tetragonal corpuscles [diameter (10-19 μm)] also present ( Fig. 2J), which at lower magnification shine like grains of sand. In young specimens corpuscles always fewer. Note, corpuscles not visible after fixation. suBneural glands. Absent. saCs. Two or three paired lobes of sperm sacs, ...
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... Oval or narrowed at one end, texture granulated, about 24-40 μm long, in vivo ( Fig. 2I-J) [15-30 μm, fixed (Fig. 2K)]. In addition, many shining, hyaline, round or tetragonal corpuscles [diameter (10-19 μm)] also present ( Fig. 2J), which at lower magnification shine like grains of sand. In young specimens corpuscles always fewer. Note, corpuscles not visible after fixation. suBneural glands. Absent. saCs. Two or three paired lobes of sperm sacs, very large, filling the coelom of IX / X-XI (Fig. 2L). Testes and sperm funnels in XI, ovaries, male pores and glands ...
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... hyaline, round or tetragonal corpuscles [diameter (10-19 μm)] also present ( Fig. 2J), which at lower magnification shine like grains of sand. In young specimens corpuscles always fewer. Note, corpuscles not visible after fixation. suBneural glands. Absent. saCs. Two or three paired lobes of sperm sacs, very large, filling the coelom of IX / X-XI (Fig. 2L). Testes and sperm funnels in XI, ovaries, male pores and glands in XII. sperM funnels. 350-690 μm long in vivo (300-500 μm, fixed), 1.7-4 × as long as wide, collar narrower than funnel body (Fig. 3A). Vasa deferentia distinctly tripartite, long, extending into segments XV-XIX. After sperm funnel and before male opening, vasa ...
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... are new, distinct species, since the sequences obtained from the examined individuals clearly separated in the phylogenetic trees (Figs 10-12). Our study also provided new reference sequences for E. albidus s. str., E. irregularis, E. krumbachi, and it provided sequences for further unnamed taxa within the E. albidus group (E. ...
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... between them are 2.1-3.8%. According to the molecular analysis, our E. krumbachi individuals and E. cf. krumbachi CE1684 and CE1689 specimens belong to the same species. The intraspecific COI distances between our E. krumbachi and E. cf. krumbachi individuals are 0.7-3%, the intraspecific H3 distances between them are 0-0.8%. On the species tree (Fig. 12), the E. albidus complex formed a distinct clade with maximum posterior probability support and contains E. adrianensis, E. irregularis and E. sp.2 / sp.3, as in the gene trees. E. adrianensis sp. nov. appeared as the sister group of E. krumbachi, E. sp.2 / sp.3 appeared as the sister group of E. irregularis. Enchytraeus andrasi and E. ...
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... appeared as the sister group of E. krumbachi, E. sp.2 / sp.3 appeared as the sister group of E. irregularis. Enchytraeus andrasi and E. andrasiformis were placed outside the E. albidus complex and they appeared there as sister groups of each other. E. andrasi and E. andrasiformis clustered with E. norvegicus Abrahamsen, 1969 on the species tree ( Fig. 12) but with only low posterior probability support, and the latter species differs from the new species in many traits. ...
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... analysis revealed that the Italian E. krumbachi specimens identified by us and E. cf. krumbachi CE1684 and CE1689 individuals (Erséus et al. 2019) from Spain belong to the same species. The genetic distances also supported this result. In the case of E. krumbachi, it seems that our specimens agree better with the morphological description Fig. 12. Enchytraeus Henle, 1837 species tree, based on COI, H3 and 16S rRNA gene (Bayes analysis, *BEAST). Posterior probabilities greater than 0.5 are shown at the nodes. Accession codes of sequences with collection information are given in Table 1. Abbreviation: n = number of included specimens for each species. Scale bar = 0.07 ...
Citations
... Detailed studies on the food preferences of enchytraeids have only been conducted in a few species [18]. The conclusions drawn from these findings are also limited by the high level of cryptic diversity within the family [19][20][21], as cryptic species may differ in their specific ecological and physiological properties [22,23]. ...
To assess the impact of Enchytraeidae (potworms) on the functioning of the decomposer system, knowledge of the feeding preferences of enchytraeid species is required. Different food preferences can be explained by variations in enzymatic activities among different enchytraeid species, as there are no significant differences in the morphology or anatomy of their alimentary tracts. However, it is crucial to distinguish between the contribution of microbial enzymes and the animal’s digestive capacity. Here, we computationally analyzed the endogenous digestive enzyme genes in Enchytraeus albidus. The analysis was based on RNA-Seq of COI-monohaplotype culture (PL-A strain) specimens, utilizing transcriptome profiling to determine the trophic position of the species. We also corroborated the results obtained using transcriptomics data from genetically heterogeneous freeze-tolerant strains. Our results revealed that E. albidus expresses a wide range of glycosidases, including GH9 cellulases and a specific digestive SH3b-domain-containing i-type lysozyme, previously described in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Therefore, E. albidus combines traits of both primary decomposers (primary saprophytophages) and secondary decomposers (sapro-microphytophages/microbivores) and can be defined as an intermediate decomposer. Based on assemblies of publicly available RNA-Seq reads, we found close homologs for these cellulases and i-type lysozymes in various clitellate taxa, including Crassiclitellata and Enchytraeidae.
... In 2023, researchers of the HNHM described 102 species new to science, as well as 13 subspecies, 4 genera, one subgenus, and one subtribe. The majority of them is animal taxa: newly described vertebrates include one blind mole rat subspecies (Mammalia) (Németh et al. 2023), and 3 species of South American frogs (Amphibia) (Székely et al. 2023), whereas invertebrates are represented by 95 species, 12 subspecies, 4 genera, one subgenus, and one subtribe of insects (Insecta) (see details and references below), and by 3 species of potworms (Annelida) (Nagy et al. 2023). The newly described insect taxa consist of 70 species, 12 subspecies, 4 genera, one subgenus and one subtribus of butterflies (Lepidoptera) (Bálint et al. 2023, Bartsch et al. 2023a, b, Boyle et al. 2023, Pan et al. 2023, Ronkay et al. 2023, Sáfián & Belcastro 2023, Volynkin et al. 2023, 15 species of ichneumon wasps (Hymenoptera) (Vas 2023a, b, c, d), one species of dustywings and one species of spongillaflies (Neuroptera) (Sziráki 2023, Szőke 2023), one species of dragonflies (Odonata) (Kovács & Theischinger 2023), 3 species of stoneflies (Plecoptera) (Murányi et al. 2023), and 4 species of flat bugs (Heteroptera) (Vásárhelyi 2023, Vásárhelyi & Heiss 2023. ...
In this paper an overview and a list are given of the new taxa described by the scientific staff members and volunteer researchers of the Hungarian Natural History Museum in 2023. The list contains 115 species-group names, five genus-group names, and one family-group name proposed by the authors. With one figure.
... Even though it is a scientifically and economically important annelid species, data regarding its digestive capacity is still very scarce and limited to only a few old studies [4,6,16]. It is worth noting that a recent molecular taxonomy study has revealed that, in fact, E. albidus was a cryptic complex of at least nine morphologically similar and closely related species [11,17]. This potentially complicates the drawing of reliable conclusions related to the digestive capacity of particular species. ...
Although enchytraeids have gained popularity in scientific research, fundamental questions regarding their feeding ecology and biology remain largely unexplored. This study investigates α-amylases, major digestive enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing starch and similar polysaccharides into sugars, in Enchytraeus albidus. Genetic data related to α-amylases is currently lacking for the family Enchytraeidae but also for the entire Annelida. To detect and identify coding sequences of the expressed α-amylase genes in COI-monohaplotype culture (PL-A strain) of E. albidus, we used classical “gene fishing” and transcriptomic approaches. We also compared coding sequence variants of α-amylase retrieved from transcriptomic data related to freeze-tolerant strains. Our results reveal that E. albidus possesses two distinct α-amylase genes (Amy I and Amy II) that are homologs to earthworm Eisenia fetida Ef-Amy genes. Different strains of E. albidus possess distinctive alleles of α-amylases with unique SNP patterns specific to a particular strain. Unlike Amy II, Amy I seems to be a highly polymorphic and multicopy gene. The domain architecture of the putative Amy proteins was found the same as for classical animal α-amylases with ABC-domains. A characteristic feature of Amy II is the lack of GHGA motif in the flexible loop region, similarly to many insect amylases. We identified “Enchytraeus-Eisenia type” α-amylase homologs in other clitellates and polychaetes, indicating the ancestral origin of Amy I/II proteins in Annelida. This study provides the first insight into the endogenous non-proteolytic digestive enzyme genes in potworms, discusses the evolution of Amy α-amylases in Annelida, and explores phylogenetic implications.
... Regarding oligochaetes, they have been identified as belonging to Enchytraeidae in nests on Mediterranean beaches in Turkey (Aymak et al., In this paper, the oligochaete species is described and identified as a member of the species complex around Enchytraeus albidus Henle, 1837 (Enchytraeidae). Parts of this complex have recently been resolved with combined methods of DNA sequencing and morphological investigation (Erséus et al., 2019), and new species of this group are currently being discovered (Arslan et al., 2018;Nagy et al., 2023;Torii et al., 2023). However, morphological species identification is difficult because of minute differences among species and unknown intraspecific variation ranges of taxonomically important characters. ...
... The specimens of Enchytraeus found in the sea turtle nests were first tentatively identified as Enchytraeus irregularis Nielsen et Christensen, 1961, but further scrutiny showed that they actually belong to a species recently described from Tuscany, E. andrasiformis Nagy, Dózsa-Farkas et Felföldi, 2023. Here we provide a description of the specimens, 2017, 2020) but left unidentified in nests in Cyprus (Broderick & Hancock, 1997) and Turkey (Katilimis et al., 2006;Urhan et al., 2010;Baran et al., 2021). ...
... A suggested monophyly of this group within the genus Enchytraeus (Erséus et al., 2019) found molecular (DNA sequence-based) support in Nagy et al. (2023) only when the newly included species E. andrasi and E. andrasiformis were excluded: these two species appeared more closely related with species of the so-called E. buchholzi-group as defined in Schmelz & Collado (2010). This would mean that the E. albidus group, defined morphologically (as in Schmelz & Collado, 2010), is not monophyletic, or that this group, defined as a monophylum that includes E. albidus s. str. ...
