Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from tropical terrestrial gastropods in southern Vietnam

Summary

Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. was recovered from several tropical terrestrial gastropod species collected in Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam with the snail, Sesara sp., designated as the type host. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is recognised by males and females with a lip region set off by the circle of six triangular low probolae, three bilobed, separated lips, stoma nearly as wide as long, the first genital papilla in males not incorporated into the bursa, the ensheathed dauer juveniles more than 1 mm long and with two circles of papillae at the head end and prominent amphidial apertures, a long filamentous tail and, when exsheathed, with a short, conical tail ending with two tiny spikes. The head structure of P. quinamensis sp. n. differentiates it from all nominal species of Phasmarhabditis. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is the second species of the genus found in Cat Tien National Park. The sympatric species P. meridionalis was also found during the present study. Phylogenetically, both species belong to different lineages within Phasmarhabditis. The molecular analysis based on partial sequences of LSU rDNA, and ITS rDNA regions showed P. kenyaensis to be the closest species to P. quinamensis sp. n.