Macroponema Mawson, 1978

Generic diagnosis

Robust nematodes lacking alae or prominent transverse annulations; cephalic and labial collars absent; mouth dorso-ventrally elongated; 2 lateral amphids and 4 sub-median papillae, each papilla with 2 setae; buccal capsule poorly sclerotised, with anterior band of sclerotisation; buccal capsule supported externally by sets of radial muscles; oesophagus elongate, lining of corpus with sclerotised thickenings; oesophageal bulb elongate; anterior extremity of intestine enlarged; deirids in region of buccal capsule. Male. Bursa unornamented; ventro-ventral and ventro-lateral rays apposed; externo-lateral ray divergent; medio and postero-lateral rays apposed; externo-dorsal ray arising from lateral trunk; dorsal ray with 4 branches; external branchlets very short, recurved, terminating in elevations on internal surface of bursa; gubernaculum absent; spicules elongate, alate. Female. Tail conical; vulva immediately anterior to anus; vagina straight; ovejector J-shaped.

Type-species: Macroponema beveridgei Mawson, 1978 .

Key to species

1a Oesophageal corpus with bead-like sclerotisations lining lumen …………...................... 2 1b Oesophageal corpus without bead-like sclerotisations lining lumen ……....................…. 3 2a With c. 20 sets of bead-like sclerotisations ………………………....………… M.comani 2b With c. 14 sets of bead-like sclerotisations …………………..……..… M. obendorfi n. sp. 3a Oesophageal corpus with transverse sclerotisations along lumen ….........… M. beveridgei 3b Oesopheageal corpus with longitudinal arcuate sclerotisations along lumen.…......................................................................................................................... M.arundeli n. sp.