Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a new slug-parasitic nematode from the Czech Republic

Abstract

Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense n. sp. is described and illustrated from the body of Malacolimax tenellus, from the locality of České Švýcary near the village of Dobrá Voda, the Czech Republic. Females are characterized by a body length of 2349 (1878-2626) µm and a cupola shaped tail with a long hyaline hair-like tail tip. Extremely prominent papilla-like phasmids present. Males 1829 (1414-2121) µm long. Peloderan bursa with nine pairs of rays (papillae), 1/1/1/2/1/3. One non-paired apparent papilla-like structure located near the ventral appendage anterior to the cloaca. Prominent papilla-like phasmids located close to the tail tip. Small subunit (18S), ITS, and D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA were used to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of sequenced species in the genus Phasmarhabditis and other closely related species. Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense n. sp. varied from other related nematodes both in morphological characterizations and phylogenetic analysis. The life cycle of the newly described species is not well known but it is probably a facultative, mollusc-parasitic nematode able to survive permanently in the saprobic phase on decaying organic matter.

Phylogenetic evidence for the invasion of a commercialized European Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita lineage into North America and New Zealand

“…Our mtDNA phylogeny revealed an affinity between P. hermaphrodita and P. neopapillosa, consistent with previous nuclear rRNA studies as well [54]. P. californica, a species recently discovered in North America [55], grouped with Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense, consistent with previous nuclear rRNA results [54]. P. papillosa grouped with Phasmarhabditis apuliae, offering a third example of consistency between our mtDNA phylogeny and nuclear rRNA-based analyses [56].…”

“…For example, our analysis identified P. huizhouensis as an early-diverging lineage that is genetically distinct from the other seven species from the genus analyzed here, a pattern consistent with previous analyses of 18S and 28S rRNA loci [57]. Our mtDNA phylogeny revealed an affinity between P. hermaphrodita and P. neopapillosa, consistent with previous nuclear rRNA studies as well [54]. P. californica, a species recently discovered in North America [55], grouped with Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense, consistent with previous nuclear rRNA results [54].…”

“…The mtDNA phylogenetic framework presented in this study for Phasmarhabditis spp. (Fig 1) revealed numerous topological consistencies when compared to other recent phylogenetic analyses of this genus that relied on nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes [54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. For example, our analysis identified P. huizhouensis as an early-diverging lineage that is genetically distinct from the other seven species from the genus analyzed here, a pattern consistent with previous analyses of 18S and 28S rRNA loci [57].…”

Phasmarhabditis zhejiangensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a new rhabditid nematode from Zhejiang, China

“…The body size of P. zhejiangensis is significantly smaller than that of P. bonaquaense [16] (Female: length: 1911 vs 2349 μm, greatest body width: 115 vs 136 μm; Male: body length: 1486 vs 1829 μm, greatest body width: 74 vs 90 μm). The spicule and gubernaculum on male of P. zhejiangensis are observably smaller than those of P. bonaquaense at 58 vs 77 μm and 20 vs 36 μm, respectively.…”

“…had been recorded, including P. hermaphrodita, P. neopapillosa, P. tawfiki, P. bonaquaense, P. californica, P. huizhouensis, P. apuliae, P. bohemica, P. meridionalis, P. safricana, P. papillosa, P. circassica and P. clausliiae [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”