Age,growth, reproduction and feed of longnosed skate,Dipturus oxyrinchus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Saros Bay,the north Aegean Sea

The age, growth, reproduction, and feeding of longnosed skate (Dipturus oxyrinchus) were studied using 179 specimens from the Saros Bay (North Aegean Sea) between March 2005 and December 2007. Composition was 49.7% females and 50.3% males. Total length of females ranged from 14.9 to 100 cm (disc width, 9.8–65 cm), and of males from 15.2 to 86.5 cm (disc width, 10–57.5 cm). Total length‐weight and disc width‐weight relationships are described by the equations W = 0.0008*TL^3.35 and W = 0.0043*DW^3.29, respectively. The age data, derived from vertebrae readings, were used to estimate the growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation: L_∞ = 256.46 cm, K = 0.04 year^?1, t₀ = ?1.17year. The maximum age was 9 years. Males matured at 64–65 cm (disc width, 43.5 cm) and females at 82–83 cm TL (disc width, 53 cm). The stomach contained mainly Parapenaus longirostris, IRI: 93.47%.     

Description of a new snake eel,Apterichtus hatookai sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from the Pacific coast of Japan

A new species of snake eel (family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae), Apterichtus hatookai, is described based on the 478.5 mm holotype and three paratypes, 265.0–519.4 mm in total length (TL), collected from the Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of Shikoku Island and central Honshu Island, Japan. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners, except for Apterichtus monodi and Apterichtus orientalis, by having seven supratemporal pores. The new species is distinguishable from A. monodi by having a longer tail (60.4–62.0 % TL vs. 57.4–60.2 %), four preopercular pores (vs. three), fewer lateral-line pores before the anus (54–58 vs. 63–68), and fewer total vertebrae (137–141 vs. 142–151). Apterichtus hatookai differs from A. orientalis in having a shorter head (5.1–6.1 % TL vs. 7.1–8.1 %; 13.3–16.0 % of preanal length vs. 16.2–18.0 %), a longer tail (60.4–62.0 % TL vs. 54.8–56.0 %), lower body depth at gill opening (0.9–1.5 % TL vs. 1.8–1.9; 2.3–3.8 % of preanal length vs. 4.1–4.2 %), more numerous total vertebrae (137–141 vs. 131–133), and by the anterior tip of the lower jaw below the center of the eye (vs. anterior to a vertical through anterior margin of eye).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathyraja leucomelanos</Emphasis>, a new species of softnose skate (Chondrichthyes: Arhynchobatidae) from New Caledonia

A new species of softnose skate (Arhynchobatidae) is described, based on a single adult male measuring 895 mm TL that was collected at a depth of 953–1,022 m on the Coriolis Bank off western New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The specimen conforms to the genus Bathyraja in having the rostral cartilage continuous with the neurocranium and very slender and uncalcified over its length. Bathyraja leucomelanos sp. nov. differs from its congeners through a combination of the following characters: distinctive coloration of the disc with white dorsal and black ventral surfaces, dorsal surface of the disc entirely covered with dermal denticles, ventral surface naked, anterior portion of the anterior margin of the disc straight, snout long and very broad with orbit about 6.0 times in preorbital length, orbit 0.73 times interorbital width, mouth 6.8% TL, tail 0.88 times precloacal length, accessory terminal 2 cartilage of the clasper having an expanded disc-shaped tip, and alar thorn tip undulating. Molecular barcoding from the COI sequence reveals that this new species is genetically close to B. spinicauda from the North Atlantic Ocean.     

Morphological and Morphometrical Characterization of Meloidogyne incognita from Different Host Plants in Four Districts of Punjab,India

The population of M. incognita, the root knot nematode (RKN) was found infesting five different host plants (okra, banana, sunflower, bottle gourd, and brinjal) out of 24 examined from four districts of Punjab, India (Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Hoshiarpur). Morphological and morphometrical characterization indicated that in the case of mature female, the characters of body length and width, neck length, ratio ‘a’, anus to tail terminus (ATT), interphasmid distance (IPD), and perineal pattern were recorded as stable characters. These taxonomic characters can be reliable for identification. All characters of second-stage juvenile (J2) such as body length, stylet length, head to median bulb length (H-MB), distance from median bulb to excretory pore (MB-EP), tail length, anal body width (ABW), and ratios C and C’ were highly variable. Analysis of interpopulation morphometric characters of mature female of M. incognita, namely, body length, width, and ratio ‘a’ were moderately variable characters (CV 0.26% to 20%) and stylet length, neck length, length of median bulb (LMB), and width of median bulb (WMB) were highly variable (CV 1.0% to 36.1%). In the perineal pattern, the two characters ATT and IPD were moderately variable (CV 8.8% to 17.6%) and two characters, anus to vulval slit (AVS) and length of vulval slit (LVS), were highly variable (CV 2.1% to 40.5%). In J2, body length, stylet length, H-MB, MB-EP, ABW, tail length, ratios C, and C’ were highly variable characters (CV > 12%).     

Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae, Myrophinae), a new worm eel from Japan

A new species of worm eel (Ophichthidae, subfamily Myrophinae), Scolecenchelys fuscogularis, is described from two specimens collected at 90–147 m depth off the coast of Japan. The new species is characterized by its dorsal-fin origin, which is located posterior to a vertical through the anus, its high total number of vertebrae (146–149), and its uniserial dentition on jaws and vomer. The new species is similar to Scolecenchelys australis and Scolecenchelys tasmaniensis in having 148–152 total and 60–61 preanal vertebrae and its uniserial teeth, but can be distinguished from the latter two species as it has a larger head [8.5–8.8 % of total length (TL) vs. 7.8–8.3 %], a longer trunk (39 % TL vs. 34–35 %), and a shorter tail (52–53 % TL vs. 56–58 %). Although S. fuscogularis most resembles Scolecenchelys chilensis in having 146–159 total and 59–64 preanal vertebrae and uniserial teeth, as well as in the proportions of the head, trunk and tail, the new species differs from the latter in having a smaller head (8.5–8.8 % TL vs. 8.9–9.7 %), a more slender body (body depth 1.5–1.6 % TL vs. 2.3–2.9 %), a more posterior dorsal-fin origin (horizontal distance between the origin and a vertical through the anus 83 % of head length vs. 36–54 %), no groove on the ventral side of its snout, and a dark lower jaw with a patch of melanophores on the ventral side of its branchial basket.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of Isospora amphiboluri (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a coccidian parasite,in a central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis) (De Vis, 1884) in Australia

An Isospora species, Isospora amphiboluri, originally described by Canon in 1967 and later by McAllister et al. (1995), was isolated from a central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis) housed at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Perth, Western Australia. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora amphiboluri (n = 30) are spherical, 24.2 (26.5–23.0) μm in length and 23.9 (22.4–25.9) μm in width, with a shape index of 1.01. The bilayered oocyst wall is smooth and light-yellow in color. Polar granule, oocyst residuum and micropyle are absent. The sporocysts are lemon-shaped, 15.7 (15.2–18.0) × 10.2 (8.9–11.2) μm, with a shape index (length/width) of 1.53. Stieda and substieda bodies are present, the Stieda body being small and hemidome-shaped and the substieda half-moon-shaped. Each sporocyst contains four vermiform sporozoites arranged head to tail. The sporozoites are 11.7 (9.9–16.2) × 3.0 (2.4–3.5) μm, with a shape index (length/width) of 3.87. A sporocyst residuum is present. Sporozoites contain a central nucleus with a finely distributed granular residuum. Comparison of oocyst measurements and their features with other valid Isospora species from hosts in the Agamid family confirmed that this Isospora species is Isospora amphiboluri. Molecular characterization of I. amphiboluri at the 18S rRNA and MTCOI loci showed the highest similarity with I. amphiboluri from the central bearded dragon, 99.8% and 99.7% respectively. This is the first report of I. amphiboluri from a central netted dragon in Australia.     

Review of the clingfish genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kopua</Emphasis> (Gobiesocidae: Trachelochisminae) in Japan,with description of a new species

A taxonomic review of the clingfish genus Kopua (Gobiesocidae: Trachelochisminae) in Japan recognizes three species: K. japonica Moore, Hutchins and Okamoto 2012, K. vermiculata Shinohara and Katayama 2015 and K. yoko sp. nov. Kopua japonica and K. vermiculata are redescribed with revised diagnoses on the basis of 20 specimens (10.4–30.4 mm standard length; SL) and the holotype, respectively. Kopua japonica is similar to K. vermiculata in head sensory pore characters (normally single nasal and postocular canal pores). However, the former differs distinctly from the latter as follows: 6–8 (modally 7) gill rakers (vs. 4 or 6); 31–33 (33) vertebrae (vs. 35); anus slightly closer to posterior margin of disc than to anal-fin origin (vs. much closer to posterior margin of disc); snout length 5.3–8.7 (mean 7.0) % SL (vs. 9.2 % SL); disc length 21.2–24.0 (22.8) % SL (vs. 18.8 % SL); pre-dorsal- and anal-fin lengths 72.9–78.4 (75.2) and 78.1–82.8 (80.1) % SL, respectively (vs. 67.5 and 73.6 % SL); and two stripes on cheek (vs. a triangular blotch). Kopua yoko sp. nov., based on 14 specimens (17.7–28.8 mm SL) from the Pacific coast of southern Japan, Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, is characterized by the following combination of characters: 6 or 7 (modally 6) dorsal-fin rays; 4–6 (5) anal-fin rays; 21 or 22 (21) pectoral-fin rays; 4–6 (5 or 6) gill rakers; 31–33 (31) vertebrae; a single (rarely two) nasal canal pores; two lacrimal and preopercular canal pores; snout length 6.5–7.9 (mean 7.1) % SL; gill opening depth 5.8–7.1 (6.5) % SL; least interorbital width 2.0–3.7 (2.6) % SL; disc length 20.3–25.0 (23.1) % SL, disc region D without flattened papillae; caudal-peduncle depth 8.1–10.2 (9.2) % SL; anus slightly closer to posterior margin of disc than to anal-fin origin; pre-dorsal- and anal-fin lengths 71.6–77.1 (73.9) and 77.0–83.7 (80.4) % SL, respectively; post-dorsal-caudal length 12.6–15.0 (13.8) % SL; arch-shaped blotches on lateral aspect of body; and two reddish-orange stripes on cheek. Morphological changes with growth in K. japonica and K. yoko sp. nov. are also described.     

Descriptions of Three New Longidorus Species from Slovakia (Nemata: Longidoridae)

Three new Longidorus species from Slovakia are described. Longidorus carpathicus n. sp. most closely resembles Longidorus silvae but differs by having a longer odontostyle, odontophore, and total stylet; smaller a and c ratios; and longer distance to the guide ring. This new species also resembles L. picenus, L. macrosoma, and L. major but differs by having a narrower lip width. It further differs from L. picenus by having a longer odontostyle and smaller c ratio, and by lacking males; from L. macrosoma by having a longer odontostyle, smaller c ratio, by lacking males, and a more pronounced J1 tail peg; and from L. major by having a shorter body length, longer odontostyle, longer odontophore, and longer J1 tail peg. Longidorus piceicola n. sp. most closely resembles L. eridanicus, from which it differs by having a greater lip width, longer tail, smaller c ratio, larger c'' ratio, shorter hyaline tail length, and a conically rounded vs. hemispherical tail. This new species differs from L. cylindricaudatus by having a larger lip width, longer odontostyle and odontophore, and a greater distance to the guide ring; from L. nevesi by having a shorter body length, longer odontostyle, larger c'' ratio, and shorter hyaline tail length. Longidorus juglansicola n. sp. most closely resembles L. athesinus but differs by its longer body, wider lips, and larger a and c ratios. It closely resembles L. vineacola but differs by its shorter body length, smaller c ratio, and an almost parallel lip outline vs. an expanded lip outline; from L. lusitanicus by a longer odontophore and tail, and an almost parallel lip outline vs. an expanded lip outline.     

Sexual dimorphism of external morphological characters in some deepwater skates (Rajidae,Rajiformes, Chondrichthyes) of the North Atlantic

Our studies of the external morphology of five species of deepwater skates (Amblyraja jenseni, Bathyraja pallida, B. richardsoni, Rajella bigelowi, and R. kukujevi) showed that their males and females differ significantly in 9 characters in the first species, 14 characters in the second, 11 characters in the third and fourth, and 10 characters in the fifth. Sexual differences occur most frequently in the length of the first gill slit (in four species out of five), the length of the nasal curtain, the mouth width, and the length of the third gill slit (in three species out of five), the width and length of the disc, the length of the first and second dorsal fin bases, the tail height at the tip of the ventral fin, the length of the fifth gill slit, the distance between the first and fifth gill slits, the interspiracular distance, the preanal length, distance from the tip of the snout to the maximum disc width, and the interorbital distance (in two species out of five).     

A new deepwater assfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bassozetus nielseni</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), from the North Atlantic and West Indian oceans

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus nielseni sp. nov., is described from 29 specimens [147–615 mm in standard length (SL)] collected from the North Atlantic and West Indian oceans. It is distinguished from 13 congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 122–129, long rakers on first gill arch 11–14, oblique scales 20–25, abdominal vertebrae 13–14, head length 18.1–21.3 % SL, body depth at anal-fin origin 8.2–14.6 % SL, predorsal length 16.4–20.1 % SL, tail length 62.7–68.0 % SL, posterior tip of pelvic-fin rays anterior to anus, a single median basibranchial tooth patch, dorsal margin of sagittal otolith smooth, and fins pale yellowish brown (preserved condition).     

Description of a new species of myxobolid parasite,Henneguya pindaibensis n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea), infecting the gills of Boulengerella cuvieri (Spix and Agassiz, 1829) from Brazil

Myxozoans are microscopic cnidarians that mainly parasitize fishes. The present study aimed to describe a new myxozoan parasite from the gills of Boulengerella cuvieri (Spix and Agassiz, 1829) by morphological and molecular analysis. The fish was collected in 2019 at the Pindaíba River, municipality of Cocalinho, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Whitish and circular plasmodia were found in the primary gill filaments, occupying an intralamellar position, with an average of 0.5 mm in diameter. Henneguya Thélohan, 1892 myxospores found inside the plasmodia were elongated and ellipsoidal, consisting of two long and elliptical shell valves with two long, tapering caudal appendages. Morphometric measurements revealed a total spore length of 36.1 ± 2.0 μm; spore body length of 12.8 ± 0.5 μm; spore width of 4.9 ± 0.3 μm; tail length of 23.3 ± 1.6 μm; capsule length of 7.2 ± 0.4 μm; capsule width of 1.5 ± 0.2 μm; and 10 coils in the polar filament. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates from this study were grouped into the main-clade of freshwater fishes, within a group of species parasitizing fishes from Brazil. Intergenotypic difference ranged from 23%–25.9% compared with other Brazilian myxozoan isolates. Using molecular and morphological characterization, this parasite was identified as a new species of the genus Henneguya.     

Cluster Analysis of Longidorus Species (Nematoda: Longidoridae), a New Approach in Species Identification

Hierarchical cluster analysis based on female morphometric character means including body length, distance from vulva opening to anterior end, head width, odontostyle length, esophagus length, body width, tail length, and tail width were used to examine the morphometric relationships and create dendrograms for (i) 62 populations belonging to 9 Longidorus species from Arkansas, (ii) 137 published Longidorus species, and (iii) 137 published Longidorus species plus 86 populations of 16 Longidorus species from Arkansas and various other locations by using JMP 4.02 software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Cluster analysis dendograms visually illustrated the grouping and morphometric relationships of the species and populations. It provided a computerized statistical approach to assist by helping to identify and distinguish species, by indicating morphometric relationships among species, and by assisting with new species diagnosis. The preliminary species identification can be accomplished by running cluster analysis for unknown species together with the data matrix of known published Longidorus species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amblyceps improcerum</Emphasis>, a new sisoroid catfish from Kachin State,Myanmar (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Amblycipitidae)

A new species of amblycipitid catfish is here described from the Indawgyi Lake basin of the Irrawaddy River drainage in Kachin State, Myanmar as Amblyceps improcerum, new species. It can be distinguished from congeners in having a unique combination of the following characters: lower jaw longer than upper; head length 17.4–22.3% SL; head width 13.7–15.2% SL; head depth 9.0–11.7% SL; interorbital distance 31–39% HL; eye diameter 7–10% HL; 37–38 vertebrae; lateral line incomplete; predorsal length 25.5–30.7% SL; smooth posterior margin of pectoral spine; pectoral-fin length 13.5–16.8% SL; pelvic-fin length 9.6–13.4% SL; dorsal-to-adipose distance 25.2–28.7% SL; length of adipose-fin base 19.4–23.3% SL; adipose fin separate from dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays; preanal length 62.1–66.9% SL; body depth at anus 9.8–12.8% SL; depth of caudal peduncle 10.1–12.6% SL; length of caudal peduncle 21.4–24.0% SL, post-adipose distance 15.8–17.8% SL; weakly-forked caudal fin with short broadly, rounded lobes (length of longest ray 1.3–1.5 times length of median rays); centrally projecting hooks on proximal lepidotrichia of median caudal-fin rays absent.     

Steinernema brazilense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Mato Grosso, Brazil

A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema brazilense n. sp., was isolated from a single soil sample collected from a natural forest in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. S. brazilense n. sp. is characterized morphologically by features of infective juveniles (IJ), males and females. For the IJ, body length averaging 1157 (1023-1284) μm, distance from anterior end to excretory pore 95 (87-102) μm, from anterior end to end of esophagus 148 (139-153) μm, tail length 85 (80-104) μm, D% and E% values 63 (58-70) and 106 (95-118.0), respectively. Lateral field pattern variable; the formula for the arrangement of ridges from head to tail is: 2, 4, 6, 8, 6, 2. For the male, the diagnostic characters include spicule averaging 83 (75-89) μm; D% about 65; the ratio SW% about 192. The length of spicule head is greater than width. Lateral field with one narrow ridge. First generation females are characterized by the presence of a ventral postanal swelling. S. brazilense n. sp. is morphologically close to Steinernema diaprepesi. It can be differentiated from S.diaprepesi by its longer IJ body length (1157 vs 1002 μm), longer distance from anterior end to excretory pore (110 vs 75 μm), a longer tail length (103 vs 83 μm); males of the new species with longer spicule (83 vs 79 μm). The new species can be distinguished further from other members of Steinernema glaseri group by characteristics of rDNA of ITS and D2D3 regions.     

Novel Myxobolus and Ellipsomyxa species (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) parasiting Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Amazon basin,Brazil

We describe two novel myxosporean parasites from Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, an economically important freshwater catfish from the Amazon basin, Brazil. Myxobolus tapajosi n. sp., was found in the gill filaments of 23.5% of 17 fish, with myxospores round to oval in frontal view and biconvex in lateral view: length 15 (13.5–17) μm and width 10.7 (9.6–11.4) μm; polar capsules equal, length 5.8 (4.6–7.1) μm and width 3 (2.3–3.8) μm containing polar tubules with 6–7 turns. Ellipsomyxa amazonensis n. sp. myxospores were found floating freely or inside plasmodia in the gall bladder of 23.5% of fish. The myxospores were ellipsoidal with rounded extremities: length 12.8 (12.3–13.6) μm and width 7.6 (6.7–8.7) μm; with two equal, slightly pyriform polar capsules, length 3.8 (3.8–4.0) μm and width 3.1 (2.5–3.4) μm, containing polar tubules with 2–3 turns. We combined spore morphometry, small-subunit ribosomal DNA data, specific host, and phylogenetic analyses, to identify both of these parasites as new myxozoan species. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses showed that Myxobolus tapajosi n. sp. clustered in a basal branch in a subclade of parasites from exclusively South American pimelodid fishes. Ellipsomyxa amazonensis n. sp. clustered within the marine Ellipsomyxa lineage, but we suspect that although the parasite was collected in freshwater, its hosts perform a large migration throughout the Amazon basin and may have become infected from a brackish/marine polychaete host during the estuary phase of its life.     

Heteronarce rierai,a new narkid ray from Mozambique,western Indian ocean

Heteronarce rierai sp. nov. is described on the basis of six specimens, one male and five females, caught in the waters off Mozambique (western Indian Ocean). Total lengths range from 257 to 296 mm. The new species is distinguished from the three other species of the genusHeteronarce by its narrower disc width (29.6% of TL in male, and 33.0 to 39.2% of TL in females), shorter disc length (32.7% of TL in male, and 34.4 to 40.6% of TL in females), and its longer interdorsal distance (10.1 to 11.7% of TL).     

Xiphinema llanosum and Trophurus vultus, Two New Plant Nematode Species from Pasture Soils in Colombia

Xiphinema llanosum n. sp. and Trophurus vultus n. sp. are described and illustrated from grass soils in Llanos Orientales, Colombia. Xiphinema llanosum is a bisexual species. The female body length is 2.3-2.7 mm, odontostyle 86-96 μm, and odontophore 58-65 μm long; vulva at 42-47%; anterior ovary is absent; the anterior uterus and oviduct are similar to the posterior branch but slightly reduced; and the tail is dorsally convex-conoid with a blunt hemispherical terminus. Male body length is 2.06-2.96 mm; spicules are 40-44 μm long; and four (rarely three or five) anterior ventromedian supplementary papillae are present. Trophurus vultus females are 0.52-0.67 mm long; vulva at 56-60%; stylet is 10.5-13.5 μm long; isthmus is as long as the basal esophageal bulb; the tail is subclavate, 1.6-2.2 times anal body width long; and the terminal cuticle thickness is about one-sixth of the tail length.     

Morphological and morphometrical analysis of Heterodera spp. populations in Jordan

Phenotypic diversity of five Jordanian populations of cyst nematodes, Heterodera spp. collected from five regions from Jordan (Ar-Ramtha, Madaba, Dana, Al-Karak, and Jerash) was investigated. Soil samples were collected from one representative field in each region. Morphological and morphometrical characteristics revealed that Heterodera latipons is dominated in cereal fields at Ar-Ramtha, Madaba, Dana and Al-Karak regions and Heterodera schachtii in Jerash. Cysts populations from all cereal fields had bifenestrate vulval cone and a strong underbridge. Wherever, cysts of the cabbage population had ambifenestrate vulval cone with long vulval slit. The bullae were absent in Ar-Ramtha, Madaba and Dana populations, but present in Al-Karak and Jerash. Based on 12 morphometrical characters, the first three functions in canonical discriminant analysis accounted 99.3% of the total variation. Distance from dorsal gland duct opening to stylet base, underbridge length, a = L/W (body length/midbody width) and length of hyaline tail tip had strong and significant contributions in the first function. While the second function was strongly influenced by length of hyaline tail, fenestral length, fenestral width and tail length. However, the third canonical discriminate function was found to be influenced by stylet length, fenestral length, a = L/W (body length/midbody width) and underbridge width. The graphical representation of the distribution of the samples showed that the first canonical discriminant function clearly separated H. schachtii from Jerash from other populations. Whereas, H. latipons collected from Madaba and Dana were clearly separated in the second function. The results indicated that differences at morphological and morphometrical levels revealed diverse populations of Heterodera spp. in Jordan.     

Description of Globodera ellingtonae n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from Oregon

A new species of cyst nematode, Globodera ellingtonae, is described from soil collected from a field in Oregon. Second-stage juveniles (J2) of the species are characterized by body length of 365-515 μm, stylet length of 19-22.5 μm, basal knobs rounded posteriorly and pointed anteriorly, tail 39-55 μm, hyaline tail terminus 20-32.5 μm, and tail tapering uniformly but abruptly narrowing and constricted near the posterior third of the hyaline portion, ending with a peg-like, finely rounded to pointed terminus. Cysts are spherical to sub-spherical, dark to light brown and circumfenestrate and cyst wall pattern is ridge-like with heavy punctations. Males have a stylet length of 21-25 μm and spicule length of 30-37 μm with a pointed thorn-like tip. Females have a stylet length of 20-22.5 μm, one head annule and labial disc, heavy punctations on the cuticle, and short vulval slit 7.5-8 μm long. Morphologically this new, round-cyst species differs from the related species G. pallida, G. rostochiensis, G. tabacum complex and G. mexicana by its distinctive J2 tail, and by one or another of the following: shorter mean stylet length in J2, females and males; number of refractive bodies in the hyaline tail terminus of J2; cyst morphology including Granek’s ratio; number of cuticular ridges between the anus and vulva; and in the shape and length of spicules in males. Its relationship to these closely related species are discussed. Based upon analysis of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, G. ellingtonae n. sp. is distinct from G. pallida, G. rostochiensis, G. tabacum and G. mexicana. Bayesian and Maximum Parsimony analysis of cloned ITS rRNA gene sequences indicated three clades, with intraspecific variability as high as 2.8%. In silico analysis revealed ITS restriction fragment length polymorphisms for enzymes Bsh 1236I, Hinf I, and Rsa I that overlap patterns for other Globodera species.