Belbolla huanghaiensis, 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 : 1690-1694

Belbolla huanghaiensis sp. nov.

( Figures 1 , 2 )

Type material

Holotype: one male („ 1: ZB030101) . Paratypes: three males („ 2: ZB 030102, „ 3: ZB030103, „ 4: ZB030104), two females ( R1 : ZB030105, R2 : ZB030106) and one juvenile (ZB030107) .

Type locality

Sublittoral in the Yellow Sea: Station 8994: 35 u 59.959N, 123 u 59.599E, water depth> 77 m, MDØ 8.26, organic matter 3.07%; Station 9594: 35 u 29.999N, 122 u 29.479E, water depth 59 m, MDØ 8.53, organic matter 3.88%; Station 8194: 36 u 26.509N, 123 u 29.939E, water depth 77 m, MDØ 8.52, organic matter 3.68%; Station 12494: 33 u 59.769N, 122 u 59.859E, water depth 68 m, MDØ 7.59, organic matter 2.77%;

Station 13294: 33 u 30.279N, 123 u 30.259E, water depth 63 m, MDØ 7.07, organic matter 2.77%.

Etymology

This species is named after the Yellow Sea.

Measurements

Measurements are given in Table I.

{830 M 3450

Holotype male 1: 3700 mm; a~38:5, b~4:5, c~14:8, Sc~81 13 90 96 66

{650 V 2290

Paratype female 1: 2458 mm; a~43:9, b~3:8, c~14:6, V ~59% 9 52 57 39

Description

The body size of the species is relatively large for this genus. Furthermore, the male size is markedly larger than the female; they average 3382 mm long and 87 mm wide. The anterior end of the body tapers to a very small diameter. The buccal cavity has a large right ventrolateral tooth and two less prominent teeth (dorsal and left ventro-lateral in position). The cuticular ring separating the two buccal chambers is smooth (i.e. with no denticles). The mouth is surrounded by six small papillae and there are 10 cephalic setae (10–13 mm long) arranged in one circle. There are dozens of cervical setae. The anterior 10 cervical setae (18–26 mm long) are in one circle (about 26 mm from head end), and the others are arranged irregularly. The oesophagus expands gradually and evenly and is modified into nine bulbs that are regarded as characteristic of the genus. Nerve ring at 41–46% oesophagus length. Spicules 106–137 mm (1.9–2.1 a.b.d.) as arc, 70–81 mm as long chord, curved with a tapered distal tip. Gubernaculum with long dorso-caudally directed apophysis, 45–60 mm long. Two winged precloacal supplements well developed. Tail 3.8–5.2 a.b.d., conico-cylindrical, tapering, with the distal third cylindrical and with a slightly swollen tip.

Males. Tail relatively stout over most of its length, narrowing rather sharply in the posterior one-third. The spicules are equal in length and identical in structure with round, blunt proximal ends, and a tapered distal tip. The gubernaculum has a pair of 45–60 mm apophyses, longer than half the length of spicule. The two pre-cloacal supplements characteristic of the genus are well developed and lie close together relatively far from the cloacal opening. Anterior one 0.7 a.b.d. Posterior one 0.6–0.7 a.b.d. Tail with four terminal setae.

Females. Body size shorter than male, ovaries paired, equal, opposed, reflexed. Vulva at 48–59% of body length, tail with two terminal setae.

Differential diagnosis

Belbolla huanghaiensis sp. nov. is characterized by the numbers of oesophageal bulbs, the length of the spicules and gubernacular apophyses, and the size of the two winged precloacal supplements. It is close to B. californica Allgen, 1951 , but differs by the length of spicules and gubernacular apophyses, and the distance of the posterior supplement from the proximal ends of the spicules. In species of B. huanghaiensis , both males and females have nine oesophageal bulbs, while for B. californica , females have 10 oesophageal bulbs. In the former, the spicule length as arc is longer than 100 mm; gubernacular apophysis is longer than 42 mm. The posterior supplements are distant from the proximal end of the spicule by more than one spicule length. In the latter, the length of the spicule is 68 mm; gubernacular apophysis is 21 mm. The posterior supplements are distant from the proximal end of the spicule by less than one spicule length. This species is close to B. zhangi Guo, 2001 , but differs by the number of oesophageal bulbs and the size of the male body. In this species, the numbers of oesophageal bulbs of male, female and juvenile are all nine. The body size is relatively larger, and the male body (3037–3700 mm long, CV% 9.9) is markedly longer than that of the female. While in B. zhangi , the numbers of oesophageal bulbs vary between eight and nine. The body size is smaller, and the body lengths of males and females are nearly equal (2230–2750 mm long, CV% 9.0).

Figures

Figure 1. Belbolla huanghaiensis sp. nov. (a) Lateral view of male head end (10006); (b) lateral view of male head and cervical region (2006); (c) lateral view of male oesophageal region (2006); (d) lateral view of female tail (4006); (e) lateral view of male posterior body part (2006). Scale bars: 10 mm (a); 50 mm (b, c, e); 20 mm (d).

Figure 2. Belbolla huanghaiensis sp. nov. (a) Lateral view of male oesophageal region (1006); (b) lateral view of male posterior body part (2006).