Morphological and molecular characterisation of Talanema ibericum sp. n. (Dorylaimida, Qudsianematidae) from southern Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Summary A new species of the genus Talanema, T. ibericum sp. n., collected in natural areas of southeastern Iberian Peninsula, is characterised, including morphological description, line, LM and SEM illustrations, and molecular (18S, D2-D3 28S rDNA sequences) study. The new species is distinguished by its 1.27-1.59 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 14-16.5 μm wide with perioral liplets, odontostyle 16.5-19.5 μm long, neck 285-359 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 42-48% of the total neck length, uterus tripartite and 147-228 μm long or 2.6-4.0 body diam., vulva transverse (V = 53-59), presence of cuticular irregularities at both sides of vulva, female tail conical with a dorsal concavity (27-40 μm, c = 36-54, c′ = 1.0-1.3), male tail short and rounded conoid (24 μm, c = 66, c′ = 0.8), spicules 58 μm long, and 17 almost contiguous ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Morphological and molecular data reveal that the new species is similar to (but easily separable from) T. baqrii, with which it is compared. Present results support the monophyly of the genus Talanema.