Taxonomy of New and Known Species of Crateronematidae (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Western Ghats, India

Abstract

New species of CrateronemaSiddiqi, 1969 and ChrysonemaThorne, 1929 are described and illustrated from the tropical rain forest soils in India. Crateronema tropicumsp. nov. is characterized by its long body (0.65–0.85 mm); cuticle with distinct transverse striations; lateral chords about one-third of the corresponding body diameter; lip region offset by constriction; pharyngeal expansion 42–53% of total neck length; vulva post-equatorial pore-like; tail elongate conoid, ventrally curved. Chrysonema minorsp. nov. is characterized by long body (0.67–0.85 mm); cuticle with fine transverse striations; lateral chords about one-third to two-fifths of the corresponding body diameter; lips amalgamated, lip region slightly offset by constriction; odontostyle about 0.6–1.0 times lip region diameter long; pharyngeal expansion 41–53% of total neck length; vulva equatorial pore-like; tail elongate conoid, ventrally curved. Males with 14–15 µm long dorylaimoid arcuate spicules, lateral guiding pieces and three ventromedian supplements. Crateronema aestivumSiddiqi, 1969 is redescribed and the photomicrographs are provided for this species for the first time. Diagnostic compendium and keys to valid species of Crateronema and Chrysonema is provided.