Leptepsilonema Clasing, 1983

Hendricks, Martin G. J. & Gibbons, Mark J., 2010, Two new nematode species from Saldanha Bay, South Africa: Perepsilonema benguelae sp. nov. and Leptepsilonema saldanhae sp. nov. (Desmodorida, Epsilonematidae), Zootaxa 2504, pp. 20-30 : 28-29

Genus Leptepsilonema Clasing, 1983

Type species: Leptepsilonema procerum Clasing, 1983 Other species:

L. macrum Clasing, 1983

L. exile Clasing, 1983

L. parafiliforme Gourbault & Decraemer 1987

L. filiforme Clasing, 1984 [ Gourbault & Decraemer, 1987, 1995]

L. santii Gourbault & Decraemer, 1995

L. richardi Verschelde & Vincx 1992

L. antonioi Decraemer & Gourbault, 2000

L. dauvini Decraemer & Gourbault, 2000

L. horridum Decraemer & Gourbault, 2000

L. saldanhae sp. nov.

General remarks. A revised taxonomic key to the males of the species of the genus is provided: modified from Gourbault and Decraemer (1987).

1 Spines present behind cephalic capsule, dorsally .......................................................................................... L. macrum Dorsal spines absent...................................................................................................................................................... 2

2 Body short (<400 μm); spicules <30 μm long............................................................................................................ 3 Body long (> 400 μm); spicules> 30 μm long............................................................................................................. 6

3 Amphid similar in males and females........................................................................................................................... 4 Amphid sexually dimorphic.......................................................................................................................................... 5

4 Amphid a curved arch; annulations with heterogeneous vacuoles, rectangular anteriorly, elongated in mid-body region and large and irregular posteriorly; 2 pairs of small copulatory thorns at posterior region of ambulatory setae; without precloacal thorns ...................................................................................................................... L. parafiliforme Amphid a spiral with flap; annulations with numerous fine vacuoles; field of 5 copulatory thorns at posterior region of ambulatory setae; 5 minute precloacal thorns present ................................................................................ L. dauvini

5 Annulations with double row of irregularly shaped vacuoles; anteriormost annulations with a single row of vacuoles; a pair of enormous copulatory thorns at level of ambulatory setae; 3 pairs of small pre-cloacal thorns; without post-cloacal thorns ........................................................................................................................................ L. filiforme Annulations with single row of irregularly shaped vacuoles; vacuoles indistinct in anteriormost annulations; field of 5 copulatory thorns and 3 spines at level of ambulatory setae; 4 subventral thorns flanking cloaca; 2 small subventral precloacal thorns ........................................................................................................................... L. saldanhae sp. nov.

6 Copulatory thorns in one field ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Copulatory thorns in two or more fields....................................................................................................................... 9

7 Annulations with one row of vacuoles ......................................................................................................................... 8 Annulations with more than one row of vacuoles .............................................................................................. L. exile

8 Annulations with vacuoles of variable size; 2–5 large copulatory spines at level of ambulatory setae ..... L. procerum Annulations with large vacuoles; 7–9 copulatory thorns at level of ambulatory setae ................................ L. antonioi

9 Copulatory thorns in two fields .................................................................................................................................. 10 Copulatory thorns in three fields ....................................................................................................................... L. santii

10 Annulations with small rectangular vacuoles; 4–5 copulatory thorns in 4 rows at level of ambulatory setae comprising first field; 1 precoacal, 2 post-cloacal thorns present in second field ...................................................... L. richardi Annulations with large rectangular vacuoles; 16–30 copulatory thorns in 4 rows at level of ambulatory setae comprising first field; 1–2 copulatory thorns posterior to ambulatory setae in second field, without post-cloacal thorns ... ..................................................................................................................................................................... L. horridum