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Two new species of creagrocercid nematodes parasitic in earthworms, with comments on the phylogenetic affiliations of the Creagrocercidae Baylis, 1943

Systematic Parasitology volume 78, pages 81–94 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Two new species of the rare nematode family Creagrocercidae from earthworms are described and illustrated. Creagrocercus braziliensis n. sp. is distinguished from the type-species, C. barbatus Baylis, 1943, by: the presence of four cephalic papillae (vs a pair of finger-shaped latero-ventral processes) on the head; larger amphids; a more posterior excretory pore position; a shorter pharynx which is remarkably expanded at the base; the nerve-ring situated just posterior to the base of the pharynx (vs at mid-pharyngeal level); an anal aperture present in the females; anterior ovary and testis reach just into the anterior half of the body (vs closely posterior to the pharynx); equal, similar (vs unequal, dissimilar) spicules; and a prominent, unpaired precloacal papilla in males. Creagrocercus drawidae n. sp. is related to C. barbatus by a similar pharyngeal shape and the presence of a tail ‘hook’, and to C. braziliensis n. sp. by: the lack of finger-shaped processes on the head and the presence of four cephalic papillae; a similar position of the excretory pore; a similar arrangement and length of the reproductive system; the presence of unpaired precloacal papilla in males; similar, almost equal spicules; and the presence of a tail ‘hook’. From both of these species C. drawidae differs by having: a much shorter body and pharynx; larger amphids; a more posterior nerve-ring position; larger and less numerous eggs; greatly inflated (vs flat) vulval lips; shorter spicules; and a smaller caudal ‘hook’. For C. drawidae, the partial sequences of the SSU (18S) rDNA and the D2D3 segment of LSU (28S) rDNA were obtained and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic affiliations of the Creagrocercidae are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants 08-04-00209 and 09-04-90300 from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Natural History Museum of Geneva, Switzerland, and is grateful for the loan of specimens.

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  1. Centre of Parasitology of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Leninskii prospect 33, Moscow, Russia, 119071

    E. S. Ivanova & S. E. Spiridonov

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  1. E. S. Ivanova
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  2. S. E. Spiridonov
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Correspondence to E. S. Ivanova.

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Ivanova, E.S., Spiridonov, S.E. Two new species of creagrocercid nematodes parasitic in earthworms, with comments on the phylogenetic affiliations of the Creagrocercidae Baylis, 1943. Syst Parasitol 78, 81–94 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-9276-5

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Keywords

  • Excretory Pore
  • Ejaculatory Duct
  • Anterior Extremity
  • Anterior Testis
  • Cuticular Membrane