Aquatic nematodes from Ethiopia VII

Three species of Rhabdolaimus de Man, 1880 and two (of which one is new to science) of Udonchus Cobb, 1913 are described from sediment samples of two lakes, two rivers and a hot spring, Ethiopia. Udonchus merhatibebi n.sp. is characterized by a distinctly truncate lip region and small cardia surrounded by gland cells that he on the anterior intestine at 45 °. The presence of twelve rugae in the cheilostome in the genus Udonchus is reported here for the first time. As a result, the family Rhabdolaimidae has been moved from suborder Leptolaimina to the superfamily Microlaimoidea in the suborder Chromadorina. The family Rhabdolaimidae is also subdivided into the subfamilies Rhabdolaiminae Chitwood, 1951 and Undonchinae n. subfam.. Scanning electronmicroscopic pictures of the five species viz. R. aquaticus de Man, 1880, R. cf. minor Cobb, 1914, R. terrestris de Man, 1880, U. merhatibebi n.sp. and U. tenuicaudatus Cobb, 1913 are also given.Abbreviations ABE = anterior body end - ABW = anal body width - Amph = amphid - Amph W = amphidial fovea width - CBW = corresponding body width - GL = gonad length - G1L = anterior gonad length - G2L = posterior gonad length - L = length - LM = light microscope - LRW = lip region width - MBW = maximum body width - n = number of specimens - NR = nerve ring from the anterior end - Ph L = pharyngeal length (neck length) - RL = rectal length - SEM = scanning electron microscope - V-A = distance from vulva to anus - W = width     

Papillonema danieli gen. et sp.n. and Papillonema clavatum (Gerlach, 1957) comb.n. (Nematoda,Desmodoridae) from the Ceriops mangrove sediments of Gazi Bay,Kenya

A new genus, Papillonema gen.n., is erected to accomodate the two species P. danieli gen. et sp. n. and P. clavatum (Gerlach, 1957) comb.n. from intertidal sediments of a tropical mangrove. Papillonema gen.n. is characterized by prominent papilliform labial sensillae, an elongate muscular terminal bulb (up to 60% of pharyngeal length), and three precloacal supplements. Comments are given on the use of the terms head capsule, head region, and cervical setae.Abbreviations a: body length divided by maximum body diameter - abd: anal body diameter - amph %: diameter of the amphid as a percentage of the corresponding head diameter - aw: amphidial width - b: body length divided by pharyngeal length - bdcs: body diameter at level of the cephalic setae - bdnr: body diameter at level of nerve ring - c: body length divided by tail length - cs: length of cephalic setae - da: distance from anterior to anus - dcs: distance from anterior edge to cephalic setae - dnr: distance from anterior edge to nerve ring - dv: distance from anterior to vulva - gub: length of the gubernaculum - hw: head width - L: body length - Isp: length of sperm cells - mbd: maximum body diameter - mbd ph: body diameter at level of pharynx - ph: pharyngeal length - spic: length of spicules measured along the arc - t: tail length - tmr: length of non-annulated tail end - V: position of vulva as a percentage of the total body length from anterior - wsp: width of sperm cells     

The freeliving nematode genus Parodontophora Timm 1963 (Nematoda: Axonolaimidae) is not exclusively marine: Parodontophora limnophila sp. nov. from freshwater in China

Parodontophora limnophila sp. nov. is described from Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake of China. It is characterized by having an amphid with its posterior end close to the base of the stoma, relatively short cephalic setae, opisthocephalic setae arranged as two subdorsal groups of three longitudinally arranged setae and two single subventral setae, excretory pore at the level of the anterior part of the stoma and renette gland 34–47% of the oesophageal length. To date, the new species is the only Parodontophora species found in freshwater habitats.     

Polkepsilonema mombasae gen. et sp.n. andPternepsilonema servaesae gen. et sp.n. (Nematoda,Epsilonematidae) from East African coasts

Two new genera and species from Kenyan tidal areas,Polkepsilonema mombasae gen. et sp.n. andPternepsilonema servaesae gen. et sp.n., are described. Both are characterized by the presence of at least fourteen subcephalic setae and by thick thorns on the ventral body region of males. In the first genus, eight to ten subcephalic setae are situated anterior to the amphid, and the ambulatory setae are bisinuous. In the second, the subcephalic setae are situated at the posterior edge of the rostrum, and the ambulatory setae are straight.A key to the 13 genera of the Epsilonematidae is presented.Abbreviations a body length divided by maximum body diameter - abd body diameter at level of anus - amph % diameter of amphid as a percent of head diameter - Asl length of anteriormost ambulatory seta of external subventral row - b body length divided by pharyngeal length - c body length divided by tail length - cs length of cephalic setae - dcs distance from rostrum edge to cephalic setae - gub length of gubernaculum - L body length - lct length of copulatory thorns - lpt length of precloacal thorns - mbd maximum body diameter of posterior body region - (mdb) minimum body diameter - mbd/(mbd) maximum body diameter divided by minimum body diameter - mbd ph body diameter at level of pharyngeal bulb - N number of body rings - ph length of pharynx - spic length of spicule measured along the arc - SSph length of subdorsal somatic setae in pharyngeal region - t tail length - tmr length of nonannulated tail region - V position of vulva as a percentage of total body length from anterior     

Descriptions of Chitwoodius brasiliensis n.sp., Chitwoodius rusticulus n.sp., and Vancterlindia venata n.sp. (Dorylaimida: Tylencholaimidae: Vanderlindiinae)

Chitwoodius brasiliensis n.sp. is described from soil around plant roots in Vicosa, MG State, Brazil. It has a body 1.9 mm (1.6-2.5) long, odontostyle and odontophore 33 μm (31-37) and 34 μm (31-36) long, respectively, and males with spicules 59-61 μm long. Chitwoodius rusticulus n.sp. from Colombian rain forest differs from other species of the genus in having a weakly muscular anterior part of the oesophagus, a pore-like vulva, and an unsclerotized vagina. Vanderlindia venata n.sp. from lucerne soil in South Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, differs from the type and only other known species of its genus in having a smaller and less slender body (L = 3.34 mm [3.15-3.71], a = 50 [46-53]), odontostyle 2.3-2.5 times lip region width long, and stylet guiding ring located at 1.2-1.4 times lip region width from anterior end.     

The Leiognathus splendens complex (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species, Leiognathus kupanensis Kimura and Peristiwady

Taxonomic analysis of a group of morphologically similar ponyfishes (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) establishes the Leiognathus splendens complex comprising four valid species: L. jonesi James, 1971, widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea, north to Hainan I. (China), and south to Brisbane, Australia; L. kupanensis sp. nov., currently known only from Kupang, Timor, Indonesia; L. rapsoni Munro, 1964, currently known only from India, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, and L. splendens Cuvier, 1829, widely distributed in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans, from India to Papua New Guinea, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. The L. splendens complex can be defined by the following combination of characters: body depth 42–60% of standard length; mouth protruding downward; slender, minute teeth uniserially on jaws; lower margin of orbit above the horizontal through the gape when mouth closed; breast almost completely scaled; lateral line complete, and a dark blotch on top of spinous dorsal fin. Diagnostic characters of the members are as follows: L. jonesi—anterior dorsolateral body surface with a semicircular naked area on nape, and a paler dark blotch on spinous dorsal fin; L. kupanensis—anterior dorsolateral body surface widely naked; L. rapsoni—cheek scaled; L. splendens—anterior dorsolateral body surface completely scaled and a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin.     

A new miniature species of the genus Triplophysa (Balitoridae: Nemacheilinae) from Yunnan, China

During a re-examination of museum specimens of Triplophysa species, some specimens that had been collected from the Jialonghe River in Yunnan Province, China, in April 1975, were identified as a new species. Triplophysa parvus n. sp. can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: dorsal fin rays 3, ; anal fin rays 3, ; pectoral fin rays 1, 11; scales absent; two saddle-like blotches with fuzzy borders cranial to the dorsal fin and four saddle-like blotches caudal to the dorsal fin; distal margin of the dorsal fin emarginate; pelvic fin reaching caudally almost to the anus; anus located immediately cranial to the origin of the anal fin; caudal fin forked; caudal chamber of air bladder reduced to a small free protuberance; head slightly laterally compressed, head deeper than wide at nape; length of caudal peduncle being 18.0–20.0% of standard length; depth of caudal peduncle being 7.8–8.4% of standard length; eye diameter 17.6–21.4% of head length; body depth being 60.7–70.2% of head length; caudal peduncle depth being 39.1–45.0% of caudal peduncle length; and body width at the base of caudal peduncle 59.0–68.0% of the body depth at the base of caudal peduncle. These characters allow a distinction from the similar species of T. nasobarbatula, T. nandanensis, and T. macromaculata.     

Nematodes from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel (Chile): the genera Cervonema and Laimella (Comesomatidae: Nematoda)

Five species of Cervonema and four species of Laimella are described from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, Chile, six species of which are new to science. Cervonema chilensisn. sp. and Cervonema hermanin. sp. are separated from other known species of Cervonema by a short cervical region (less than one head diameter from the front end to the anterior border of the amphids). Cervonema chilensisn. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 5 anal diameters with posterior half filiform; Cervonema hermani n. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 6–9 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) cylindrical. Cervonema shiaen. sp. is characterised by the cephalic seta 4 m long, amphids 9–10 m in diameter; spicules 16 m long and 0.8–0.9 abd; tail 4.7–5.4 anal diameter and 50% posterior part filiform; 4–5 minute precloacal supplements. Laimella subterminatan. sp. is characterised by the subterminal position of the buccal cavity which separates it from the other species of the genus. Laimella annaen. sp. is characterised by the head diameter 9–11 m, cephalic setae and external labial setae 9 + 5 m long, respectively, amphids 7 m in diameter; spicules 28–30 m long; tail 14–17 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) filiform; 5 precloacal supplements. Laimella sandraen. sp. is very close to Laimella annaen.sp. in having similar cephalic sensilla, amphids and spicules. Laimella sandraen. sp., however, can be separated from L.annaen. sp. by the shape of head and the structure of sperm cells, the total body length and the cylindrical part of tail. Cervonema papillatum Jensen, 1988, C. tenuicauda (Stekhoven, 1950) and L. longicauda Cobb, 1920 are found in this area as well. The key of all known species of Cervonemaand Laimellais presented.     

Three new species of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates) (Acari,Oribatida, Parakalummidae) from Nepal

Three new parakalummid mites of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates), N. (N.) parabulanovae sp. n., N. (N.) paramacrosacculatus sp. n. and N. (N.) pararotundus sp. n., are described from Nepalese soils. Neoribates (Neoribates) parabulanovae sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) bulanovae Grishina, 2009, N. (N.) rotundus Aoki, 1982 and N. (N.) setiger Balogh & Mahunka, 1978, however, it differs from N. (N.) bulanovae by the body length, body and leg integument, morphology of bothridial setae, absence of aggenital setae, length of interlamellar setae and location of adanal setae ad₃; from N. (N.) rotundus by the body size, body integument, morphology of bothridial setae and length of interlamellar setae; from N. (N.) setiger by the body size, number of genital setae and absence of aggenital setae. Neoribates (Neoribates) paramacrosacculatus sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) macrosacculatus Aoki, 1966, however, it differs from the latter by the body size, body integument, length and morphology of bothridial setae, number of genital setae, absence of lamellar setae and length of interlamellar setae. Neoribates (Neoribates) pararotundus sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) rotundus, however, it differs from the latter by the number of notogastral setal alveoli, body integument and length of interlamellar setae.     

Longidorus grandis n. sp. and L. paralongicaudatus n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae), Two Parthenogenetic Species from Arkansas

Two new parthenogenetic species of Longidorus were found in Arkansas. Longidorus grandis n. sp. is characterized by its body (5.80-8.24 mm), slightly offset head, head width 20-27 µm, odontostyle 86-100 µm, guide ring 26-35 µm posterior to the anterior end, short conoid to mammiliform tail. Longidorus grandis n. sp. is similar to L. vineacola Sturhan &Weischer, 1964; L. lusitanicus Macara, 1985; L. edmundsi Hunt &Siddiqi, 1977; L. kuiperi Brinkman, Loof &Barbez, 1987; L. balticus Brzeski, Peneva &Brown, 2000; L. closelongatus Stoyanov, 1964; and L. seinhorsti Peneva, Loof &Brown, 1998. Longidorus paralongicaudatus n. sp. is characterized by its body length (2.60-5.00 µm), anteriorly flattened and offset head region 13-18 µm wide, odontostyle length 92-127 µm, guide ring 21-30 µm posterior to the anterior end, tail elongate-conical, and c'' = 1.2-2.6. Longidorus paralongicaudatus n. sp. most closely resembles L. longicaudatus Siddiqi, 1962; L. socialis Singh &Khan, 1996; L. juvenilis Dalmasso, 1969; and L. curvatus Khan, 1986.     

Species of Aphanolaimus (Nematoda: Araeolaimida) from Belgium

A nematological survey of Belgium revealed four species of Aphanolaimus, two known ones, A. attentus de Man, 1880 and A. aquaticus Daday, 1894, and two new ones. A. pseudoattentus n.sp. resembles A. attentus in many respects but can easily be distinguished by the greater body length, the head shape, the shape of the amphideal fovea and the longer cephalic setae. A. deconincki n.sp. is characterized by its head shape, shape of amphideal fovea, posterior origin of lateral field and large number of body annules.     

New water mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aturus</Emphasis> (Acari,Hydrachnidia, Aturidae) from Russia

Two new species of the genus Aturus Kramer (A. tuzovskyi sp. n. and A. kimichungi sp. n.) from Russia are described. These species and closely related species of the genus Aturus are compared. A. tuzovskyi sp. n. male is characterized by a slender body, the presence of a pair of bifurcated setae on the dorsal shield, two sword ventrodistal setae equal in length on the genu of leg IV, and 10–14 pairs of acetabula. The female of this species is characterized by the oval body and the presence of 10–13 pairs of acetabula. The male of A. kimichungi sp. n. is characterized by a rounded body, the presence of a single pair of bifurcated setae on the dorsal shield; sword setae on the genu IV are longer than tibia IV; 14–21 pairs of acetabula are present. The female of this species possesses a rounded body and 18–19 pairs of acetabula.     

Longidorus biformis n. sp. and L. glycines n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae): Two Amphimictic Species from Arkansas

Two new amphimictic species of Longidorus were found in Arkansas. Longidorus biformis n. sp., found in the rhizosphere of hardwood trees along streams in sandy soil in 14 Arkansas locations, is characterized by its long body (5.42-9.50 mm), wide expanded flattened head end, head width 20.0 to 26.0 µm, odontostyle 96 to 125 µm, guide ring 29 to 38 µm posterior to the anterior end, elongate conoid tail, and c'' = 0.9-2.1. Females with 2 to 11 vetromedian supplement-like structures were found in 2 of 14 populations of this new species. Longidorus biformis n. sp. is closest to L. seinhorsti Peneva, Loof &Brown, 1998 and L. closelongatus Stoyanov, 1964. Among North American species it is closest to L. glycines n. sp. A distinguishing feature of L. biformis n. sp. is the presence of supplement-like organs in some females. Longidorus glycines n. sp., found in soybean microplots at the Main Research Station, Fayetteville, Arkansas, is characterized by its long body (6.14-8.31 mm), wide offset flattened head end, head width 20.3 to 23.3 µm, odontostyle 87.3 to 99.5 µm, guide ring 22.3 to 26.4 µm posterior to the anterior end, short conoid tail with rounded terminus, and c'' = 0.9-1.4. Longidorus glycines n. sp. is closest to L. lusitanicus Macara, 1985. Among North American species it is close to L. biformis n. sp., L. breviannulatus Norton and Hoffman, 1975, and L. crassus Thorne, 1964. Both new species are believed to have four juvenile stages; the first stage was not found for L. biformis n. sp.     

Draconematidae (Nematoda) from cold-water corals in the Porcupine Seabight: The genus Cygnonema Allen & Noffsinger, 1978

Two new and closely related species of the genus Cygnonema Allen & Noffsinger, 1978 are described from a cold-water coral degradation zone in the Porcupine Seabight (NE Atlantic). Both species differ from C. steineri Allen & Noffsinger, 1978 by more pronounced pharyngeal and posterior swellings, a smaller body, a shorter pharynx in relation to body length, a higher number of CAT, and by the absence of a dorsal tooth. Cygnonema verum sp. n. differs from C. belgicae sp. n. by its greater body length, the relatively larger head capsule, a higher number of CAT, a more anteriorly positioned anteriormost laterodorsal CAT, a higher number of PAT, by the external labial sensilla being setiform, a higher number of subcephalic setae, and by a more anterior position of the amphidial fovea on the head capsule. Males of C. verum sp. n. are easily recognised by the presence of two large subventral, precloacal corniform setae. They also differ from males of C. belgicae sp. n. in the smaller amount of cytoplasm in the sperm cells, a knob-like capitulum, and a relatively shorter tail tip. The diagnosis of Cygnonema is emended, a dichotomic identification key to the three species is provided, and their biogeography is discussed.     

Five new species of Trichostomatida (ciliated protozoa) from the colon of wild African rhinoceroses

Five new species of Charonina Strand, 1928 were revealed, in addition to 41 species of 20 other apparent genera, in a survey of ciliated intestinal protozoan endocommensals of both black and white wild African rhinoceroses. Charonina species infected the ventral and dorsal region of the ascending colon, where the average total protozoan populations (× 10³/ml digesta fluid) were 100 and 80, respectively, in the white and 270 and 260, respectively, in the black rhinoceroses. Charonina species constituted up to 50% in the ventral and 25% in the dorsal populations. Measurements in micrometres and specific characteristics of the five species are: C. odontophora n. sp. length 70±5.7, width 32±7.2, dorso-ventral thickness 7±1.1, slender ovate-lanceolate-shaped body with frontal lobe and prong-like protrusion in oral-opening; C. tortuosa n. sp. length 87±9.3, width 42±5.3, dorso-ventral thickness 15±2.7, body-shape ovate-lanceolate without frontal lobe, oral-opening with longitudinal ridge, cytopharyngeal canal with sharp bend after emerging from oral-opening; C. dicerotis n. sp. length 67±8.6, width 37±4.0, dorso-ventral thickness 12±2.2, body-shape ovate-lanceolate without frontal lobe, oral-opening without ridge, cytopharyngeal canal curved without sharp bend; C. tenuis n. sp. length 56±10.0, width 16±4.1 at anterior end and 10±2.7 at posterior end, dorso-ventral thickness 7±1.2 at anterior end and 5±1.1 at posterior end, body-shape cone-like with longitudinal striations and frontal lobe; C. tetragona n. sp. length 58±4.7, width 26±3.2, dorso-ventral thickness 12±1.8, body-shape rectangular with frontal lobe and caudal flaps. The length, width and dorso-ventral thickness of the five species are on average in the approximate ratio of 6:3:1, thus showing them to be dorso-ventrally compressed. The body conformation of C. tetragona n. sp. closely resembles that of Didesmis quadrata Fiorentini, 1980, but is distinguished from the latter by the absence of a concrement vacuole and the presence of an elongate cytopharyngeal canal.     

Marine Nematodes of Bothnian Bay,Finland: Ethmolaimus hailuotoensis n. sp. (Ethmolaimidae: Nemata)

Ethmolaimus hailuotoensis n. sp. from Bothnian Bay, northern Baltic Sea, is described and illustrated. Ethmolaimus hailuotoensis n. sp. has a strongly sclerotized luminal lining of the terminal esophageal bulb and esophagus. The most characteristic feature is a lateral series of large concentric, sclerotized rings with a fine, internal longitudinal oval sclerotization. In addition, E. hailuotoensis n. sp. is distinguished from other Ethmolaimus species by its smaller body size, fewer number of precloacal supplements (7-8), conical tail, and the position of amphid posterior to the buccal cavity. Females of E. hailuotoensis n. sp. studied were hermaphroditic. Ethmolaimus hailuotoensis n. sp. coexisted with E. pratensis. Ethmolaimus pratensis from Bothnian Bay has a characteristic row of sublateral hypodermal glands, a character not before seen in Ethmolaimidae.     

Kinorhyncha from the stomach of the shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888) from Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

Six kinorhynchs were found in the stomachs of the Argentine red shrimp, Pleoticus mulleri (Bate, 1888) from the Argentine coast of Patagonia. Three new species are described: Condyloderes storchi n. sp., Pycnophyes argentinensis n. sp. and P. neuhausi n. sp. A fourth species, Kinorhynchus anomalus Lang, 1953 was previously known only from the coast of Chile. This is the third known record of kinorhynchs documented as a food source. Condyloderes storchi, n. sp. is the fourth new species in this genus. It is distinguished by its paradorsal cuspidate spines on segments 7 and 9, lateral accessory and ventrolateral spines on segments 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11. P. argentinensis, n. sp. has nearly equal sternal width for segments 3–11 (about 7% of the trunk length), episternal plates with three distinct areas along the anterior margin, mid-sternal plate with even margin, mid-dorsal spinose protrusions along the terminal borders of segments 11 and 12, and lateral terminal spines 176 μm long, about 21% of trunk length. P. neuhausi, n. sp.has a prominent posterior elongation of the tergal plate of segment 3, uneven lateral margins of the mid-sternal plate, a maximum sternal width at segment 3, no mid-dorsal spinose processes and mid-ventral thickenings on segments 10–12.     

Two new species of oribatid mites of Lasiobelba (Acari,Oribatida, Oppiidae) from Nepal,including a key to all species of the genus

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Lasiobelba (Oribatida, Oppiidae), Lasiobelba (Lasiobelba) daamsae sp. n. and Lasiobelba (Antennoppia) nepalica sp. n., are described from eastern Nepal. Lasiobelba (L.) daamsae sp. n. is most similar to L. (L.) remota Aoki, 1959 and L. (L.) gibbosa (Mahunka, 1985), however, it differs from both by the anterior part of pedotecta I specifically curved, rostrum pointed and exobothridial setae not shorter than bothridial setae. Lasiobelba (Antennoppia) nepalica sp. n. is most similar to L. (A.) granulata (Mahunka, 1986), however, it differs from the latter by the larger body size, exobothridial setae longer than rostral setae and bothridial setae not longer than interlamellar setae. An identification key to known species of Lasiobelba is given.