Paramphimonhystrella elegans, Huang & Zhang, 2006

Huang, Y. & Zhang, Z. N., 2006, A new genus and three new species of free-living marine nematodes from the Yellow Sea, China, Journal of Natural History 40 (1 - 2), pp. 5-16 : 6-8

Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov.

( Tables I, II; Figures 2 , 3 )

Type material

Two males and three females collected from Stations 11594, 11794, 12494, and 14394 ( Figure 1 ). Holotype: „ 1 (ZB030190) slide number ZB030112213, Station 11594. Paratypes: „ 2 (ZB030191) ZB030113122, Station 11794 and three females (ZB030192, ZB030193, and ZB030194) ZB0301122234, ZB030115213, and ZB030120321, Station 11594, 12494, and 14394 .

Type locality

Benthic in the Yellow Sea. Station 11594: 34 ° 29.749N, 122 ° 30.219E, 63 m, MdØ 6.01, organic matter 2.02%; Station 11794: 34 ° 29.869N, 123 ° 29.109E, 78 m, MdØ 8.91, organic matter 4.15%; Station 12494: 33 ° 59.769N, 122 ° 59.859E, 68 m, MdØ 7.54, organic matter 2.78%; Station 14394: 33 ° 00.379N, 124 ° 29.229E, 64 m, MdØ 3.64, organic matter 1.1 %.

Etymology

This species is named after the beautiful slender body. Description

Body length 1286–1916 mm; maximum body diameter 29–38 mm. Cuticle smooth. Head tapering. Buccal cavity conical, strongly elongated, and cuticularized. Ten cephalic setae in one circle, 4–5 mm long each. Two circles of ten cervical setae each, first group at the level of the amphids, 7 mm long; the second circle about 14 mm behind amphids, 10 mm long. Amphids ovoid, 8–12 mm long, about 14 mm from the head end. Oesophagus 154–220 mm. Tail 250–308 mm long, conico-cylindrical. Conical part about two-thirds of tail length; anal diameter 27–32mm. Three caudal glands, and the proximal two large and obvious. Three terminal caudal setae, about 20 mm long.

Male. Spicule 24–26 mm long, with a small hook at distal end. Gubernaculum and precloacal supplement lacking.

Female. A single anterior ovary, about 430 mm long; vulva at about 49–55% of body length.

Diagnosis and discussion

Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov. is characterized by ovoid amphids, the spicules with a small hook at distal end. It is close to Paramphimonhystrella minor sp. nov. But the principal differences between the two species are the body size, the shape of the amphids, the structure of the head, buccal cavity and spicules. In this species, the body length is more than 1200 mm; the amphids are ovoid. In P. minor sp. nov. the body is shorter than 800 mm; amphids are circular; spicules with sharp tip. It is similar to Paramphimonhystrella sinica sp. nov. in body size, but amphids are circular, and spicules have a blunt tip in the latter.

Figures

Figure 1. Map of distributed stations of new species in the Yellow Sea.

Figure 2. Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov. (A) Lateral view of male head end, showing buccal cavity, amphid, and cervical setae; (B) lateral view of female body, showing single anterior ovary; (C) lateral view of male tail, showing spicule and caudal glands.

Figure 3. Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov. (A, B) Lateral view of male head end, showing buccal cavity, amphids, and cervical setae; (C) lateral view of female head end, showing buccal cavity and amphids; (D) lateral view of male tail, showing spicule and caudal glands.