Molinacuaria indonesiensis n. sp. (Nematoda, Acuarioidea) from Rattus argentiventer in Indonesia

Abstract

Molinacuaria indonesiensis n. sp. from the stomach of Rattus argentiventer, the ricefield rat, in Sukamandi, Java, Indonesia is described and figured from the examination of seven males and three females. The species is separated from the three other species of the genus, namely, M. bendelli (Adams & Gibson, 1969) Wong & Lankester, 1985, M. acholonui (Schmidt & Kuntz, 1972) Wong & Lankester, 1985 and M. gallinulae (Wang, 1966) Wong & Lankester, 1985. The species is characterised by (i) the larger body measurements, (ii) the presence of a fold rather than a deep groove separating the anterior cephalic region and the ptilina which form four distinct shields, (iii) the morphology of the four ptilina, each one being tripartite with a pointed middle section twice as long at the two lateral sections (iv) the number of papillae on the posterior end of the male (two pairs pre-cloacal, four pairs post-cloacal), (v) the morphology of the left spicule, and (vi) the female tail being straight with a terminal knob.