Description of two new species of Haliplectus Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda, Plectida, Haliplectidae) from mangrove areas of Sandspit backwater, Karachi, Pakistan

Zootaxa. 2024 Jun 11;5468(1):154-166. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5468.1.6.

Abstract

Haliplectus shahinae n. sp. and H. sandspitensis n. sp. two free-living marine nematodes of the family Haliplectidae Chitwood, 1951 collected from mangrove areas of Sandspit backwater, Karachi, Pakistan, are being described and illustrated. Both new species belong to a group of species characterized by the presence of a bipartite basal esophageal bulb with striated or unstriated valve plates. H. shahinae n. sp. is characterized by its comparatively shorter body length (0.4-0.44 mm); annulated cuticle; amphidial fovea at 6-9 µm from the anterior end; bipartite basal bulb with unstriated valve plates; reproductive system mono-prodelphic with reflexed ovary, presence of post uterine sac and vulva at 52-57% of body length and tail short conoid, straight, 1.5-1.8 times anal body width long. H. sandspitensis n. sp. is characterized by more than 1 mm body length (1.0-1.2 mm); annulated cuticle; amphidial fovea at 8-12 µm from the anterior end; bipartite basal bulb with striated valve plates; didelphic reproductive system, with the vulva at 40-47% of body length and tail elongated, conoid, 1.4-2.2 times anal body width long. A dichotomous identification key is provided for the valid species of Haliplectus Cobb, 1913.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animal Structures / anatomy & histology
  • Animal Structures / growth & development
  • Animals
  • Body Size*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Nematoda / anatomy & histology
  • Nematoda / classification
  • Organ Size
  • Pakistan
  • Wetlands