Tripyla filicaudata

Zhao, Zeng Qi, 2009, New Zealand species of the genus Tripyla Bastian, 1865 (Nematoda: Triplonchida: Tripylidae). I: A new species, a new record and key to long-tailed species, Zootaxa 2291, pp. 35-50 : 42-45

Tripyla filicaudata de Man, 1880

( Figs 3 , 4 )

Measurements. Table 3.

TABLE 3. Morphometric data for Tripyla filicaudata (measurements in μm ± S.D.)

Females Males

Mean ± S.D. (range) Mean ± S.D. (range) n 6 (St Johns) 7 (Invercargill) 5 (St Johns) 1 (Invercargill) a 31.1 ± 2.2 (28.8–33.8) 34.3 ± 3.0 (29.9–36.0) 34.2 ± 2.5 (31.0–36.4) 39.0 b 5.4 ± 0.2 (5.1–5.6) 5.6 ± 0.1 (5.4–5.8) 5.4 ± 0.6 (4.4–6.0) 5.8 c 4.9 ± 0.2 (4.8–5.2) 3.9 ± 0.2 (3.6–4.2) 4.6 ± 0.4 (4.3–5.3) 3.8 c’ 9.3 ± 0.7 (8.3–10.2) 12.8 ± 0.7 (11.9–13.5) 9.4 ± 0.4 (9.0–10.1) 11.7 V/T 48.8 ± 1.6 (46.0–49.9) 46.5 ± 0.9 (45.6–48.3) 76.4 ± 1.5 (75.0–78.6) 72.9

Body length 1391.0± 39.8 1329.8 ± 38.0 1329.2 ± 127.6 1361

(1317–1428) (1293–1387) (1138–1457)

Head diameter 20.8 ± 1.5 (18–23) 20.07 ± (18.8–21.0) 20.9 ± 2.1 (19–23) 22.1

Body diameter 44.9 ± 3.6 (39–48) 38.9 ± 2.3 (37.0–43.8) 38.9 ± 3.3 (36–44) 34.9

Dorsal tooth from anterior 22.5 ± 1.3 (21–24) 20.2 ± 1.1 (18.5–21.7) 21.1 ± 1.3 (19–23) 20.6

Excretory pore from anterior 69.2 ± 3.7 (64–75) 62.7 ± 3.9 (58.0–67.7) 75.7 ± 8.8 (68–87) 69.0

Vulva from anterior 679.2 ± 24.9 (641–709) 617.6 ± 13.1

(600.9–632.9)

Pharynx length 260.0 ± 8.9 (247–270) 237.1 ± 9.1 249.1 ± 31.9 (213–298) 235.4

(221.5–248.0)

Amphid from anterior 11.7 ± 0.8 (10–13) 12.2 ±.0 7 (11.5–12.8) 11.4 ± 1.3 (9–13) 12.1

Nerve ring from anterior 92.2 ± 2.3 (89–95) 86.6 ± 3.9 (78.9–89.9) 94.2 ± 3.2 (91–98) 90.9

Tail length 283.6 ± 19.0 (256–313) 340.9 ± 16.2 292.7 ± 42.3 (249–342) 362.1

(340.9–16.2)

Spicule 36.6 ± 4.4 (27–40) 38.3

Gubernaculum 13.6 ± 1.2 (12–16) 14.6

Testes extent 609.1± 95.5 549.4

(441.4–675.1)

Material examined. Six males: NNCNZ, slide Nos 2573–2578. Thirteen females: NNCNZ, slide Nos 2579–2591.

Description. Female. Body ventrally arcuate when fixed ( Fig. 3 A), posterior more curved than anterior. Cuticle distinct, about 2–3 μm thick at mid-body part; cuticular annules 2–3 μm wide. Maximum body diameter generally at level of vulva, occasionally at the level of base of pharynx. Body pores not seen. Head rounded, smooth, continuous with body contour, narrower than adjacent body, cuticle 3–4 μm thick ( Figs 3 C, D; 4A, B). Labial papillae short and conical. Six long and four short cephalic setae arranged in two separate circles; six longer cephalic setae 5–6 μm long, or 24–30% of head diameter, more or less arcuate and directed anteriorly; four short setae 2–3 μm long and thinner in comparison to the six longer cephalic setae, more or less arcuate near tip, situated nearly one length of a longer seta from the anterior circle. Stoma walls thickened distinctively, dorsal tooth large, hook shaped, triangular; two tiny subventral teeth in stomatal chamber 5–6 μm anterior to dorsal tooth ( Figs 3 C, D; 4B). Amphids cup-like with transverse oval opening, located 10–13 μm from anterior end ( Figs 3 C; 4C).

Excretory pore 65–75 μm, or 25–28% of pharyngeal length, from anterior end ( Fig. 3 A). Nerve ring 89– 95 μm, or 33–38% of pharyngeal length, from anterior end. Pharynx cylindrical, muscular, 247–270 μm long. Three prominent cells located at the pharyngeal-intestinal junction. Coelomocytes not seen.

Female genital system amphidelphic, gonad lying ventro-lateral to intestine, 245–366 μm long, or 17– 27% of body length between anterior and posterior points of flexures ( Fig. 3 E). Ovaries reflexed 1/4–1/3 of the way back to vulva. Eggs were present in female reproductive systems ( Figs 3 E; 4I). Vulva simple, with protuberant lips, vagina occupying one-third of corresponding body diameter, in lateral view apparently poreshaped ( Figs 3 E; 4H), sclerotised pieces seen in the vaginal area.

Intestine showing undulating walls and broad lumen. No distinct prerectum. Rectum less than anal body diameter (25 vs 30 μm). Tail tapering in anterior part (40%) reaching nearly up to middle point, then becoming cylindrical ( Fig. 3 F), c = 4.5–5.2 (Table 2). Numerous tiny dots evenly distributing on anterior part of middle field of tail ( Fig. 3 F). Three caudal glands arranged in tandem ( Fig. 3 F), spinneret terminal, 3–5 μm long ( Figs 3 G; 4J).

Male. Morphology similar to that of females. Body C- to spiral-shaped when fixed ( Fig. 3 B). Cuticle separated into two layers in some specimens. Testis outstretched; developing germ cells in single file ( Fig. 3 B). Spicules paired, 27–40 μm long along mid-line, horn-shaped, ventrally curved ( Figs 3 H; 4E). Gubernaculum 12–15 μm long, crescent-shaped. Four ventromedian supplementary papillae observed in pharyngeal region.

Locality and habitat. Specimens from soil and litter mixture, 0–10 cm depth from two different places in New Zealand: under a group of native tree fern Cyathea medullaris Swartz (common name: mamaku), St Johns Bush, Auckland (36˚ 52.354 S, 174˚ 50.531 E), Coll. Zeng Qi Zhao, 14. iii. 2008; under Pinus radiata D. Don , Queens Park, Invercargill (46˚ 24.209 S, 168˚ 21.264 E), Coll. Zeng Qi Zhao, 8. v. 2009.

R emarks. Tripyla filicaudata generally occurs in both terrestrial and limnetic habitats, mostly in soil and moss, but also in limnic biotopes, and in subterranean waters ( Andrássy 2007). Tripyla filicaudata has been reported from three continents: Europe ( Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Sweden, Faeroe Islands, the Baltic, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Italy, Russia), Asia ( Uzbekistan, Russian Far East) and North America ( United States) ( Andrássy 2007). This is the first report of this species in New Zealand and also in the Southern Hemisphere.

In general, the present specimens (13 females, 6 males) correspond well to the descriptions given by Brzeski & Winiszewska-Ślipińska (1993) and Andrássy (2007). However, a big range in body length was mentioned in both descriptions (Brzeski & Winiszewska-Ślipińska 1993; Andrássy 2007). This was not observed in the New Zealand specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 3 Tripyla filicaudata. A: Female entire, lateral. B: Male entire, lateral. C: Female head, lateral. D: Sub-female head, lateral. E: Genital region, lateral. F: Female tail. G: Spinneret. H: Male genital region. Scale bars: A, B, E, F, H = 50 μm; C, D = 25 μm. G = 10 μm.

FIGURE 4 Tripyla filicaudata. Photomicrographs. A & B: Female pharyngeal region. C: Amphid. D: Cardia region (arrowed). E: Male genital region. F: Male, sperm. G: Anus & caudal glands (arrows indicate glands). H: Genital region, vulva, lateral. I: Egg (arrowed) & Reproductive system. J: Spinneret. Scale bars = 10 μm.