TABLE 1. A detailed comparison of the features of the Barwelli species group, including the new species
Characters D. barwelli (Beddard, 1886) 1, 2,3, 4 D. beddardii (Rosa, 1890) 2, 4, 5, 6,7, 8 D. rara Gates, 1925 6, 9 D. constricta Gates, 1929 6, 7, 10 D. spissata Gates, 1930 6, 11 D. delicata * Gates, 1962 6, 11, 12 D. vazhania Ardra & Narayanan, sp. nov.
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Data from: 1 Shen (2018); 2 Shen et al. (2018); 3 Shen et al. (2025); 4 Narayanan et al. (2023a); 5 Rosa (1890); 6 Gates (1972), 7 Julka (1981); 8 Chen (1938); 9 Gates (1925); 10 Gates (1929); 11 Gates (1930); 12 Gates (1962); * Refer to the subheading ‘remarks' on the addition of D. delicata in Barwelli group.
Length 25–44 mm 24–120 mm 35–80 mm 73–110 mm 90–130 mm 23–27 mm 21–39 mm
Width 1.35–2.23 mm 2–5 mm 3–4 mm 3–4½ mm 5–7 mm 2 mm 2.5–4.5 mm
Segments 89–119 117–188 154 148–196 159 ? 106–146
Colour Unpigmented Yellow-brown or white (unpigmented) White (unpigmented) White (unpigmented) Unpigmented Greyish or blueish Light grey dorsum, whitish ventrum (unpigmented)
Dorsal pores Absent Present Absent ? Absent ? Absent
Clitellum 10–13 (= 4) 9–14 (= 6) 10–13 (= 4) 10–13, 14 (= 4, 5) ? ? ½9–½14 (= 5)
Spermathecal pores Concealed in furrow at c Large slits at or median to cd Median to c Median to c At c Close to c (?) Large slits at c
Male pore location On small, eversible penes, penes usually retracted male apertures, between bc On short tubular penes pointing forward (length a little more than half the segment), between bc Usually on slight teat-like protuberances, between bc On rather conical porophores, between bc On conical anteriorly directed porophores, between bc On anteriomesially directed porophores, between bc On short tubular penes, usually concealed within aperture; between bc
Genital markings/ tumescence Whitened pads anterior and posterior to secondary male aperture Whitened areas of epidermal thickenings, in front and behind male pores Present, usually whitened epidermal thickenings in segments 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 Present, whitened areas of epidermal thickenings in segments 10, 11, occasionally on 7, 8, 12. Present, in segments 8 and circular lips on 10 marked by a deep groove Absent, epidermis whitened in bc between equators of 10/11 Present, irregularshaped epidermal thickening, together a flower-like impression, with grooves, in 10 and 11
No. of gizzards (within segments) Three (in 14–16) Three to six (in 12–20) Three to five (in 12–18) Two to four (in 13–18) Four to five (in 17–21) Four (in 12–15) Three to four (in 12–16)
Intestine begins ? 24±1 23±1 24, 25 ? ? 20±1
Vas deferens; joins prostate at its Thin delicate and much coiled; middle Quite short, S-shaped and not twisted; subentally Rather short, slender; about at the centre of prostate Rather short, slender; ental end Very long, thickened portion in a cluster of long loops, three times larger than testis sac; ental end Long, in a cluster of loops, as large as testis sac; towards ectal end Very long, coiled into a large mass, smaller than testis sac; middle portion
Prostates Glandular, erect, cotton-like with penial chamber Glandular, digitiform, not usually long, gland lack at ectal end Sessile, circular, discoidal to domes-shaped Short, erect Glandular, very long, coiled, looped Glandular, erect, berry-shaped with fine duct Glandular, kidney-shaped, dome-shaped muscular ectal end (penial chamber)
Prostatic capsule Digitiform Digitiform, erect or bent Small, spindle-shaped in parietes Club-shaped, narrowed ectally, bent Digitiform Digitiform or club-shaped Narrow, round tubular, Cshaped
Spermathecal duct Long, slender, coiled and contorted Simple and quiet straight Duct slightly thickened ectally Duct slightly thickened ectally Very long, muscular, ectal portion strongly muscular Short, straight with only one loop, thickness three to four times towards ectal end Fairly short, thick with two or three loops
Spermathecal atrium Small, spherical Small simple widening of ectal end of duct, conical-, pinecone-shaped, mostly confined to parietes Absent, slight enlargement duct ectally Absent, slight enlargment duct ectally Absent Absent Small, sessile on body wall, about oval-shaped, longitudinally placed
Ovisacs Present, extends in three to eight segments in 11–18 Present, in segment 12 ? ? ? Present, in 12 Present, extends in segments 12–13
Distribution Australia, Bahamas, Chile, Cuba, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, New Caledonia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore, Taiwan, Tonga India, Myanmar, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam Myanmar India, Myanmar Myanmar Myanmar India