DESMODORIDAE (NEMATODA) MIT EXTREM LANGEN SPICULA AUS SUDAMÉRICA

Abstract

1. It is discussed that in five from the six orders of freeliving marine nematodes there are species with extraordinary long spicula. These species live in mud, sand and between algae. Extraordinary long spicula are slender, have with very few exceptions the form of an elongated comma and are accompanied by a
1) Die Arbeit wurde gefordert durch Exkursionsbeihilfen von „ORPLANLos Canales" (Chile) zur Küste Patagoniens und durch eine Reisebeihilfe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) nach Kolumbien. In Kolumbien konnte ich am Instituto Colombo-Alemán in Santa Marta arbeiten. Allen drei Institutionen sei herzlich gedankt. slender gubernaculum without apophysis. In the respectives females the sexual organs are built normally as in other species in which the males possess normal spicula (1 exception).
2. 4 species belonging to the family Desmodoridae are described: Microlaimus acicularis n. sp., Molgolaimus tenuispiculum Ditlevsen 1921 (both to Microlaiminae), Desmodora (Desmodora) filispiculum n. sp. and D.(D.) sinuata n. sp. (both to Desmodorinae). The three first mentioned species are collected from the Pacific coast of Southern Chile, the last mentioned one from the Atlantic coast of Colombia.
3. The spicula of Molgolaimus tenuispiculum and Desmodora sinuata are not only very elongated but furthermore of a very outstanding form.
4. Within the genus Desmodora de Man 1889 the subgenus Desmodorella Cobb 1933 is supposed to be synonym to the subgenus Desmodora.
5. Similarities which exist between Desmodora, the epsilonematids and draconematids are discussed.