Lepidonema magnum

Rodríguez, Jans & Rodríguez, Nayla, 2010, Two new species of nematode (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae) parasites of Passalus interstitialis Escholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Passalidae) from Cuba and a new locality for Longior similis Morffe, Garcia & Ventosa, 2009, ZooKeys 49 (49), pp. 1-11 : 6-9

Lepidonema magnum sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F6BFF727-6A4B-40F6-940E-2332CBD401CA

Figs 3 A–I, 4 A–G

Type material. ♀ holotype, Cuba, La Habana Province, Jaruco, Escaleras de Jaruco ; in Passalus interstitialis ; 16.III.2008; E. Fonseca, J. Morffe & F. Alvarez coll.; CZACC 11.4533 . 2 ♀♀ paratypes, same data as holotype, CZACC 11.4534 , 11.4594 .

Measurements. Holotype female a = 14.45, b = 4.93, c = 6.82, V% = 51.66, total length = 2.710, maximum body width = 0.188, first cephalic annule = 0.018×0.083, stoma length = 0.030, procorpus length = 0.435, isthmus length = 0.035, diameter of basal bulb = 0.095, total length of esophagus = 0.550, nerve ring to anterior end = 0.250, excretory pore to anterior end = 0.730, vulva to posterior end = 1.310, anus to posterior end = 0.398, eggs = 0.088 –0.095 × 0.035 –0.040 (0.092 ± 0.004×0.037 ± 0.003) (n = 3).

Paratypes (females) (n = 2) a = 13.15–15.09 (14.12 ± 1.37), b = 4.60–4.96 (4.78 ± 0.26), c = 6.90–6.92 (6.91 ± 0.02), V% = 49.81–53.42 (51.61 ± 2.55), total length = 2.415 –2.630 (2.523 ± 0.152), maximum body width = 0.160 –0.200 (0.180 ± 0.028), first cephalic annule = 0.018× 0.075 –0.083 (0.018×0.079 ± 0.005), stoma length = 0.030 –0.035 (0.033 ± 0.004), procorpus length = 0.400 –0.428 (0.414 ± 0.019), isthmus length = 0.030 –0.040 (0.035 ± 0.007), diameter of basal bulb = 0.088 –0.095 (0.091 ± 0.005), total length of esophagus = 0.525 –0.530 (0.528 ± 0.004), nerve ring to anterior end = 0.233 –0.245 (0.239 ± 0.009), excretory pore to anterior end = 0.670 –0.710 (0.69 ± 0.028), vulva to posterior end = 1.125 –1.320 (1.223 ± 0.138), anus to posterior end = 0.350 –0.380 (0.365 ± 0.021) eggs = 0.093×0.038 (n = 1).

Description. Female body large and robust. Cuticle markedly annulated in spiny region (annule about 0.008 mm width) and less in rest of body. These annules almost disappear in last third of body. Cervical cuticle with opposite rows of spines from end of first cephalic annule to midpoint of basal bulb or very short distance beyond its end, arranged initially in 16 rows of robust, scale-like spines increasing to about 20 rows of thinner spines where they end. Longitudinal sub-cuticular striae present. Lateral alae well developed, from short distance posterior to end of spines (about 0.2 body-widths) to level of vulva. Head short, bearing eight small papillae arranged in pairs. First cephalic annule long, with rounded margins and almost equivalent to head-width. Stoma stout, short, hardly extending posterior to first cephalic annule. Esophagus with powerful, muscular and sub-cylindrical procorpus which has base set off from short isthmus. Basal bulb sub-spherical; valve plate well developed. Intestine simple, sub-rectilinear, with fore region strongly dilated. Rectum short; anus not prominent. Nerve ring surrounding procorpus at about half of its length. Excretory pore situated at little less than body width posterior to basal bulb. Vulva a median transverse slit near mid-body; lips not prominent. Vagina muscular, forwardly directed. Genital tract didelphic-amphidelphic. Ovaries similar in length and reflexed; distal flexures of about 1.5 body-widths in length. Anterior ovary reflexed just posterior to excretory pore. Posterior ovary reflexed at about 2.6 body-widths anterior to anus. Eggs comparatively small, ovoid; shell smooth and thin. Tail short, conical, subulate, ending in fine tip. Male unknown.

Differential diagnosis. L. magnum sp. n. is similar to L. brasiliensis Travassos & Kloss, 1957 in body length (2.415 –2.710 vs. 2.640 –2.850), the comparative length of the esophagus (b = 4.60–4.96: 4.71–4.83), spines which cease a short distance posterior to the bulb in one specimen (in the other specimens they end at the midpoint of the basal bulb) and the termination of the lateral alae at the level of the vulva. L. magnum sp. n. can be distinguished from L. brasiliensis by the lateral alae arising at about 0.2 body-widths posterior to the end of the spines but without actually reaching them. In L. brasiliensis the lateral alae commence at the end of the spines. Also, L. magnum sp. n. has a shorter first cephalic annule (0.018 vs. 0.028 –0.038), stouter body (a = 13.15–14.45 vs. 17.6–17.81) and the tail is comparatively shorter (c = 6.82–6.92 vs. 6.29–6.33).

L. magnum differs from L. teresae García, Ventosa & Morffe, 2009 (the only other species of the genus known to occur in Cuba) by its larger body (2.630 –2.710 vs. 1.610 –1.790) and both the esophagus (b = 4.93–4.96: 3.65) and the tail (c = 6.82– 6.92 vs. 4.10–4.42) are comparatively shorter. As in L. brasiliensis the lateral alae of L. teresae commence at the end of the spines ( García et al. 2009b).

L. bifurcata Cobb, 1898 , from Australia, has a bifid tail tip, a unique feature in the genus that differentiates it from the new species. From L. caracae Kloss, 1962 in Brazil, it differs by the extension of the lateral alae which, in the latter, end at the level of the anus. L. caracae has comparatively shorter esophagus (b = 6.43 vs. 4.93–4.96) and the tail (c = 11.59 vs. 6.82–6.92). Also, the vulva is more posterior in the Brazilian taxon (V% = 58.96 vs. 49.81–53.42).

Type host. Passalus interstitialis Escholtz, 1829 ( Coleoptera : Passalidae )

Site. Gut caeca

Type locality. Escaleras de Jaruco, Jaruco, La Habana Province, Cuba.

Etymology. Named after the Latin magnus, great or powerful, due to the size and robustness of the species.

Figures

Figure 3. Lepidonema magnum sp. n. female. A Esophageal region, lateral view B Cephalic end, internal view C Cephalic end, external view D Spines at level of basal bulb E Tail, lateral view F Vulva, lateral view G Egg H Genital tract I Habitus, lateral view.