Belbolla warwicki, Huang & Zhang, 2005

Huang, Y. & Zhang, Z. N., 2005, Three new species of the genus Belbolla (Nematoda: Enoplida: Enchelidiidae) from the Yellow Sea, China, Journal of Natural History 39 (20), pp. 1689-1703 : 1698-1700

Belbolla warwicki sp. nov.

( Figures 5 , 6 )

Type material

Holotype: one male („ 1: ZB030114) . Paratypes: three males („ 2: ZB030115, „ 3: ZB030116) and two females ( R1 : ZB030117, R2 : ZB030118) .

Type locality

Sublittoral in the Yellow Sea: Station 15094: 32 u 29.369N, 124 u 00.519E, water depth 41 m, MDØ 2.89, organic matter 0.76%; Station 13994: 33 u 01.629N, 122 u 32.27 9E, water depth 29 m, MDØ 6.93, organic matter 2.84%; Station 14194: 32 u 59.589N, 123 u 35.389E, water depth 40 m, MDØ 7.64, organic matter 3.84%.

Etymology

This species is named in honour of Professor R. M. Warwick.

Measurements

Measurements are given in Table III.

{ 430 M 1354 Holotype male 1: 1470 mm; a~40:8, b~3:4, c~12:7, Sc~30 7 36 37 24 {424 V 1272 Paratype female 1: 1390 mm; a~39:7, b~3:3, c~12:9, V ~59% 6 35 35 20

Description

The body size of this species is relatively small compared to the other species of the genus, 1230–1690 mm long. The anterior end of the body tapers to a very small diameter. The buccal cavity has a large right ventro-lateral tooth and is separated into two chambers by a cuticular ring. There are 10 cephalic setae (5–6 mm long) arranged in one circle. There are dozens of cervical setae. The anterior 10 cervical setae (10–15 mm long) are in one circle (about 12 mm from head end), and the others are arranged irregularly. The oesophagus expands gradually and evenly and is modified into seven bulbs (first bulb sometimes not very clear in the males), which is regarded as characteristic of the genus. Oesophageal part is relatively short. Nerve ring 51–56% oesophageal length. Spicules 33–37 mm (1.3–2.5 a.b.d.) as arc, 30–31 mm as long chord, broad with rounded proximal ends, distally tapering. Gubernaculum with small dorsal apophysis. Tail 4.8–5.6 a.b.d., gradually tapering with short cylindrical part, and with a slightly swollen tip.

Males. Tail relatively stout over most of its length and gradually narrowing and cylindrical in the posterior quarter. The spicules are equal in length and identical in structure with rounded, blunt proximal ends. The gubernaculum has a pair of 7.5–8.0 mm apophyses. The two pre-cloacal supplements are reduced, in long pocket-shaped structure, not winged shape, which is regarded as characteristic of the genus. Tail with three terminal setae.

Females. Ovaries paired, equal, opposed, reflexed. Vulva at 55–59% of body length. Tail without terminal setae.

Differential diagnosis

Belbolla warwicki sp. nov. is characterized by the number of oesophageal bulbs, the shape of the spicule, gubernacular apophysis and precloacal supplements. It is close to B. asupplementata Juario, 1974 . They all have seven bulbs, but the principal difference between the species is the presence or absence of precloacal supplements and the shape, the size of spicules and gubernacular apophyses. In B. warwicki , precloacal supplements are present, whilst in B. asupplementata , precloacal supplements are absent. The body size and the shape of spicule and gubernacular are very different.

Figures

Figure 5. Belbolla warwicki sp. nov. (a) Lateral view of male head, cervical and oesophageal region (4006); (b) lateral view of male head end (10006); (c) lateral view of male posterior body part (4006); (d) lateral view of female tail (4006). Scale bars: 20 mm (a, c, d); 10 mm (b).

Figure 6. Belbolla warwicki sp. nov. (a) Lateral view of male cervical and oesophageal region (2006); (b) lateral view of male posterior body part, showing spicules (4006); (c) lateral view of male posterior body part, showing pre-cloacal supplements (4006).