Atypical reproductive processes in a new species of marine Nematoda Spirobolbolaimus franciscus sp. nov. (Desmodorida, Microlaimidae) from Brazil
Da Silva, M.C.; Filho, J.S.R. (2026). Atypical reproductive processes in a new species of marine Nematoda Spirobolbolaimus franciscus sp. nov. (Desmodorida, Microlaimidae) from Brazil. Zootaxa 5821(4): 501-516. https://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.4.4
In: Zootaxa. Magnolia Press: Auckland. ISSN 1175-5326; e-ISSN 1175-5334, more
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| Keywords |
Deep sea
Reproduction
Spermatophores
Nematoda [WoRMS]
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| Author keywords |
Brazilian coast; sperm cells |
| Authors | | Top |
- Da Silva, M.C.
- Filho, J.S.R.
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| Abstract |
A new deep-sea species of the genus Spirobolbolaimus, S. franciscus sp. nov., has been discovered. It closely resembles S. pernambucanus Manoel, Neres & Esteves 2024, in general appearance and head region. Still, it differs in terms of larger body size (average 2665 µm in males, 2563 µm in females) compared to 1716 µm (holotype), and longer spicules (average = 68 µm) compared to 54 µm, with a c’ value of 2 versus 4. However, the main diagnostic feature that distinguishes the new species from all other species of the genus is a previously unrecorded “pin”-like secretion structure in the males vas deferens, as well as the presence of an inner spermatophore-like structure with the wall formed by a similar derived secretory product in the females. The new species also closely resembles S. undulatus Shi & Xu 2016, in most features, such as body length, spicules length, and sperm cell size; however, it clearly differs in its feeding apparatus, having only three teeth and lacking numerous small additional teeth. Additionally, Spirobolbolaimus franciscus sp. nov. possesses elongated oval sperm cells and also presents pin-like structures with a triangular head and spiniform corpus. Both features are discussed. |
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