Two new species of free-living nematodes from the East China Sea

Abstract

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes of the genera Hopperia and Nemanema are described from the sublittoral sediment of the East China Sea. Hopperia macramphida sp. nov. is characterized by having large amphidial fovea with five turns; arcuate spicules with enlarged proximal end and central internal lamella extending one third of spicule length from proximal end; gubernaculum with bent apophyses, six papilliform precloacal supplements; and conico-cylindrical tail with swollen tip and terminal setae. Nemanema minutum sp. nov. is characterized by relatively smaller body size in the genus; large oval amphidial fovea; conical tail; slender spicules with alae and hooked proximal end; ring-like gubernaculum; and papilliform precloacal supplements with three short setae. An updated dichotomous key is provided for the 17 species of Hopperia.