Three new species of free-living marine nematodes of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) from the continental shelf off northeastern Brazil (Atlantic Ocean)

PeerJ. 2024 Apr 30:12:e17355. doi: 10.7717/peerj.17355. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Three new species of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) are described from sample sediments collected in the South Atlantic, along the Continental Shelf break of Northeastern Brazil. Microlaimus paraundulatus sp. n. possesses four setiform cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three small teeth, arched and slender spicules and a wave-shaped gubernaculum. Microlaimus modestus sp. n. is characterized by four small cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three teeth (one large dorsal tooth), cephalated spicules and a strongly arched gubernaculum in the distal region. Microlaimus nordestinus sp. n. is characterized by the following set of features: relatively long body, eight rows of hypodermal glands that extend longitudinally along the body and a funnel-shaped gubernaculum surrounding the spicules at the distal end. An amendment of the diagnosis is proposed for the genus.

Keywords: Marine nematodes; Nematode diversity; South Atlantic; Species description; Taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Geologic Sediments* / parasitology
  • Male
  • Nematoda / anatomy & histology
  • Nematoda / classification
  • Nematoda / isolation & purification

Grants and funding

The Brazilian navy provided logistical support for the scientific cruise aboard the R/V Vital de Oliveira. A. Manoel has a FACEPE graduate scholarship (IBPG-1516-2.00/21). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.