Description of Ruehmaphelenchus taedae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) found in Loblolly pine logs from the USA

Summary Ruehmaphelenchus taedae n. sp., isolated from Loblolly pine logs (Pinus taedae L.) from the USA, is described and figured. It is characterised by a relatively slim body (a = 42 and 43 for males and females, respectively), three lines in the lateral field, male spicules relatively small (12-18 μm) with high and dorsally bent condylus and weakly developed rostrum, bursal flap absent, short tail possessing a long terminal spike ending in a bluntly rounded tip and 8.7-13.3 μm long, vulva positioned at ca 83% of body length, vulval flap absent, vulval lips slightly protruding, post-vulval uterine branch extending for less than half of vulva to anus distance, and female tail conoid, ca 3-4 anal body diam. long, with 13.7-18.5 μm terminal projection. The new species can be separated from all other species of the genus by the male tail possessing a long terminal spike and the more anterior excretory pore. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 28S D2-D3 region sequences confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.

Aborjinia corallicola sp. n., a new nematode species (Nematoda: Marimermithidae) associated with the bamboo coral Acanella arbuscula (Johnson)

A new species of Aborjinia Özdikmen, 2010 is described from the tissues of the cold-water bamboo coral Acanella arbuscula (Johnson) from the northwest Atlantic. Aborjinia corallicolasp. n. is characterized by 18.4–33.2 mm long body in adults; outer labial and cephalic sensilla papilliform and located 14–21 µm from anterior end, amphideal aperture located 22–41 µm from anterior end, excretory pore indistinct, rectum and anal opening functional, convex-conoid tail with broadly rounded terminus, spinneret subventral. It is placed in the genus Aborjinia based on the combination of the following characters: outer labial and cephalic sensilla papilliform in shape and located in one circle, contrary to Marimermis Rutsov & Platonova, 1974 (outer labial and cephalic sensilla setiform) and Ananus Rubtsov, 1977 and Thalassonema Ward, 1933 (outer labial and cephalic sensilla in separate circles, if known). From Aborjinia eulagiscae Tchesunov & Spiridonov, 1985 the new species differs in much shorter body, much shorter tail, presence of caudal glands and spinneret in adults, different host species. Our finding represents the first report of a nematode in a parasitic relationship with a cold-water octocoral. Phylogenetic relationships between Aborjinia and other nematodes are analyzed based on 18S rDNA sequences. Summary of all presently known species and genera of the family Marimermithidae is also given.

Descriptions of Deontolaimus holovachovi sp. nov. and Campylaimus zhoui sp. nov. from Chinese sea areas

Two new species of free-living marine nematode discovered from an intertidal sandy beach in the Bohai Sea and from a sublittoral region in the East China Sea are described. Deontolaimus holovachovi sp. nov. is characterized by short cephalic setae (2.5–3 μm long); ventrally-unispiral amphidial fovea; excretory pore located at the level with nerve ring; lateral alae present; two pairs of lateral cervical setae present; arcuate spicules 1.5–1.6 cloacal body diameter long, with the proximal half swollen and proximal end hooked, the distal half narrow; gubernaculum with dorso-caudal apophysis; postcloacal sensilla present in males; a midventral caudal papilla with a short seta situated at posterior third of tail length. Campylaimus zhoui sp. nov. is characterized by loop-shaped amphid with very long ventral limb extending along pharyngeal region to level of anterior part of intestine, 4.7–5.2 times the length of dorsal limb; excretory pore opening posterior to the pharyngo-intestinal junction; spicules symmetrical, slightly arcuate without proximal capitulum; gubernaculum with small dorsal apophysis; precloacal supplements absent.

Bursaphelenchus parayongensis n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in packaging wood from China

Summary Bursaphelenchus parayongensis n. sp. was isolated from packaging wood of a consignment from China exported to Germany. The new species is characterised by the lateral field with three lines, 9-13 μm long stylet with small basal swellings, and the excretory pore located near the posterior part of metacorpus. The male spicules are mitten-shaped, the lamina smoothly tapers towards the distal tip. The condylus is broadly rounded, with a small dorsally bent hook, rostrum triangular with sharply pointed tip, and without cucullus. One precloacal papilla, one adcloacal pair and two postcloacal pairs of male papillae present, with the posteriormost pair forming ‘gland papillae’. Bursal flap long, spade-like with posterior margin truncate or irregular. Females have a small vulval flap of 2-3 μm long, and a post-vulval uterine sac extending for 55-77% of the vulva to anus distance. Tail cylindrical, mostly (about 70%) with a robust mucron, very short to less than 3 μm, but occasionally tail terminus bluntly rounded, without mucron. It is similar to species in subgroup 3 of the eggersi group including B. carpini, B. clavicauda, B. cryphali and B. yongensis, but morphologically different. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on partial 18S, ITS and D2-D3 region of 28S sequences has confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.

Description of Basilaphelenchus pedrami n. sp. (Tylenchomorpha: Aphelenchoididae) isolated from Kyoto, Japan

Summary An undescribed Basilaphelenchus species was isolated from the dead and decaying wood of an unidentified broad-leaved tree in Kyoto, Japan. The species was cultured on a lawn of Botrytis cinerea after many attempts and kept as a laboratory strain. The nematode is characterised by the position of its secretory-excretory pore, which differs between males (anterior to median bulb) and females (overlapping or posterior to median bulb), the tail morphology of males (conical with very short mucron) and females (smoothly tapering conical with various shapes at terminus) and male spicule morphology, with spicules possessing a smoothly curved blade (calomus-lamina complex) and a shallow capitulum depression. In addition, the new species is differentiated from other members of the genus by the molecular sequences of its ribosomal RNA region. Phylogenetically, the new species is close to two Iranian species, B. brevicaudatus and B. gorganensis, but can be distinguished from them based upon its separated phylogenetic status. The genus contains five species that were described from Chile and Iran. Thus, the isolation of a species from this genus in Kyoto, Japan, represents the first record of the genus from East Asia. The new species is described and illustrated herein as B. pedrami n. sp.

A new nematode of the genus Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) from Botia dario (ornamental fish) from Jiri River, Jiribam, Manipur, India

During a taxonomic study of parasites of freshwater fishes, three new gravid female nematodes of the genus Rhabdochona were recovered from the intestine of a freshwater fish, Botia dario caught from Jiri River. Detail study revealed the specimen as a medium-sized nematode, tapering at both ends with finely striated cuticle, 14 anterior teeth in the funnel-shaped prostome, vulva post-equatorially open, vagina muscular, posteriorly directed with an ovejector, eggs oval, thinshelled and embryonated, tail tip conoidly pointed. Thus, the present species is assigned to the genus Rhabdochona. Prevalence and intensity of infection is 20% (1/5) and 3(3/1) parasite per host, respectively. Comparing the relative characteristics of the two conspecies, the present species closely resembles Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) acuminata. It differs in a few aspects such as the longer oesophagus, more anteriorly located excretory pore, longer vagina, thin-shelled eggs but smooth-shelled eggs in R.(R) acuminata, conoidly pointed tail tip but bluntly ended in R. (R.) acuminata. Based on these distinguishing characters the present species is described as a new species giving the name Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) jiribamensis n. sp.

Supplementary characterisation of Bursaphelenchus leoni Baujard, 1980 (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in Pinus massoniana from Zhejiang Province, China, with proposal of B. borealis Korentchenko, 1980 as a junior synonym

Summary Bursaphelenchus leoni is redescribed, using morphology, morphometrics and molecular data, based on a population isolated from dead Pinus massoniana in Zhejiang Province, China. It is characterised by a lateral field with three lines, a 12-15 μm long stylet with small basal swellings, excretory pore located one body diam. posterior to nerve ring, spicules mitten-shaped, dorsally and ventrally arcuate, with lamina smoothly tapering towards broadly rounded distal tip without hook-like process in the Chinese population, condylus broadly rounded with a small dorsally bent hook, rostrum triangle or conical with finely rounded tip. The bursal flap is long, spade-like with posterior margin truncate or irregular. A 2-3 μm long vulval flap is present. The female tail is long and conical (c′ = 5.3-6.9), with the terminus finely rounded, or occasionally pointed. The Zhejiang population of B. leoni is close to B. eidmanni and B. silvestris, which all belong to the leoni-group sensu Braasch et al. (2009). Comparison with the description of B. borealis led to the conclusion that B. leoni and B. borealis are conspecific, the latter being regarded as a junior synonym of the former.

New species of Thoonchus (Enoplida, Enchelidiidae) from the Yellow Sea and redescription of T. giganticus Belogurova et al., 1986

The family Enchelidiidae is recovered as monophyletic and appears to be a more recently derived taxon within the superfamily Oncholaimoidea. It combines nematodes with buccal cavity with three unequal teeth, crenate pharynx, and absence of demanian system. Genus Thoonchus was erected for nematodes characterized by the large buccal cavity with heavily cuticularized walls and several rows of denticles, short and arcuate spicules and gubernaculums with expanded corpus. One new species is described here from the Sishili Bay, located in the northern Yellow Sea. Thoonchus covidus sp. nov. is characterized by the body length 3195‒4339 µm, outer labial and cephalic setae in one circle, pocket shaped amphid above the buccal cavity base, secretory-excretory pore at the base of cephalic setae, arched spicules, gubernaculum with thin proximal extension parallel to spicules, preanal supplement absent, three pairs of preanal papillae. It differs from other congeners by the position of secretory-excretory pore, absence of supplementary organ in males and presence of three pairs of precloacal papillae. Redescription of T. giganticus is also provided. After critical evaluation of the genus we recognize 4 valid species and provide a taxonomic key to species.

Aphelenchoides smolae n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in Lilium orientalis imported into China from The Netherlands

Summary Aphelenchoides smolae n. sp. isolated in Ningbo Port, China, from medium soil and tissues of Lilium orientalis bulbs imported from The Netherlands, is described. It is characterised by the female body length of 826 (672-1002) μm and male body length of 785 (683-844) μm, lateral field with four lines (three bands), stylet 13.0-14.9 μm long with small basal swellings, excretory pore situated slightly posterior to nerve ring, vulval flap absent, post-vulval uterine sac well developed and extending for ca 35.7-62.4% of vulva to anus distance, conical tail with terminus bearing a single mucron with many tiny nodular protuberances under SEM, males common, with spicules 25.7-29.8 μm long (median curved line), the condylus and rostrum rounded, well developed, the dorsal limb with a hook-like tip, and tail bearing three pairs (2 + 2 + 2) of caudal papillae and a sharply pointed mucron. The new species belongs to the Group 2 category of Aphelenchoides species sensu Shahina. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S, 28S D2-D3 of rDNA and COI mtDNA further characterised the new species.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Helicotylenchus ciceri n. sp. and H. scoticus Boag & Jairajpuri, 1985 (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) from Iran

Summary Helicotylenchus ciceri n. sp. and H. scoticus are described and illustrated based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characters. The new species is characterised by a conical and truncated lip region with five or six distinct annuli, stylet 32-37 μm long with anteriorly concave knobs, secretory-excretory pore posterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve, dorsally convex-conoid tail with a terminal projection, phasmids 14 (7-20) annuli anterior to the level of anus, empty spermatheca and absence of males. Intraspecific variation of 16 populations of H. scoticus, collected from chickpea and lentil fields in Kermanshah province, western Iran, is discussed. The results of the phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the partial 18S rRNA, D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA genes are provided for the studied species, confirming their differences from each other and determining the position of them and their relationships with closely related species.