Morphological and molecular characterisation of Moshajia idiofora Siddiqi, 1982 (Dorylaimida: Qudsianematidae), with new insights into the phylogeny of the enigmatic Lordellonematinae
Summary Seven populations of Moshajia idiofora, six from India and one from Japan, are characterised, including morphological description, morphometrics, LM and SEM observations, and molecular (18S rDNA gene sequence) analysis. These populations are compared to previous records of the species as well as its closest species. Two of these species, M. cultristyla and M. qasimi, are regarded as junior synonyms of M. idiofora. SEM pictures provide new details of the lip region form. Molecular data indicate that M. idiofora belongs to a morphologically heterogeneous clade whose components share the absence of a distinctly developed pars refringens vaginae and raise a serious doubt about the traditional position of Lordellonematinae representatives in the Dorylaimina system.