Description of two new free-living marine nematode species of subgenus Quadricoma (Desmoscolecida, Desmoscolecidae, genus Tricoma) from Korea

Abstract

During a survey of free-living marine nematodes of Korea, two new marine desmoscolecid nematodes belonging to subgenus Quadricoma Filipjev, 1922 were discovered. Tricoma (Q.) jejuensis sp. nov. and T. (Q.) unipapillata sp. nov. are described based on specimens obtained from washings of coarse sediments from eastern and southern coasts of Korea. Tricoma (Q.) jejuensis sp. nov. is characterized by having 33 quadricomoid body rings and inversion at main ring 23, pentagonal head with truncated anterior end, a pair of ocelli situated at main ring 6, somatic setae comprising of 8 pairs of subdorsal setae and 12 pairs of subventral setae, and relatively short spicules (42-46 μm long). Tricoma (Q.) unipapillata sp. nov. is characterized by 44 quadricomoid body rings and inversion at main ring 32, somatic setae comprising of 7 pairs of subdorsal setae and 10 pairs of subventral setae, globular head truncated anterior end, relatively short and stumpy cephalic setae with cuticular flange, one single naked ventral median genital papillae situated on main ring 20, and spicules with a proximally marked capitulum. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of these two new species are provided in this study.