NEMATODES FROM ITALIAN SAND DUNES. 3. FOUR NEW SPECIES OF QUDSIANEMATIDAE (DORYLAIMIDA, NEMATODA)

Abstract

Four new species of Qudsianematidae (Dorylaimida: Nematoda), found in coastal sandy dunes in Sicily (Italy), are described and illustrated. Eudorylaimus novus sp.n. is characterized by small size, odontostyle almost as long as lip region width, pore-like vulva, vagina with sclerotized pieces, presence of paravulval papillae, male ventral precloacal papillae at level of the proximal end of spicule, tail almost straight, convex-conoid with round terminus to conoid with pointed or subdigitate terminus. Labronema carusoi sp.n. is characterized by its medium size, odontostyle 21-30 µm long, with relatively large aperture, vulva longitudinal, postequatorial, vagina with sclerotized pieces, 18-24 contiguous ventral precloacal papillae, tail shorter than anal body diameter, with broadly round terminus. Discolaimoides brevicaudatus sp.n. is characterised by its slender body, medium size, odontostyle 12-13 µm long, with relatively large aperture, vulva transverse, postequatorial, tail short, conoid with round terminus, 23 contiguous ventral precloacal papillae. Discolaimoides florealis sp.n. characterized by its slender body, large size, odontostyle 9-11 µm long, expanded lip region with petaloid lips, vulva transverse, postequatorial, tail conoid with round terminus, five ventral precloacal papillae.