A new species of the genus Tenuidraconema (Nematoda: Draconematidae) from a seamount near Tonga Islands (South Pacific), with notes on habitat and biogeography

Abstract

A new species of free-living marine draconematid nemaode, Tenuidraconema ongaensis n. sp., is described from the subtidal dead corals from a seamount near Tonga Islands. It differs from all the species hitherto described by the following characteristics: position of 12 cephalic adhesion tubes (posterior 6 cephalic adhesion tubes inseed on the body annules and anterior 6 ones on rostrum in male; all 12 cephalic adhesion tubes inseted on rostrum in female). number of posterior sublateral adhesion tubes (11 in male and 12 in female) and posterior subventral adhesion tubes (10-11) in male and 10-12 in female).