Phasmarhabditis zhejiangensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a new rhabditid nematode from Zhejiang, China

Abstract

A new nematode species of the genusPhasmarhabditiswas isolated from the body surface of a slug (Philomycus bilineatusBenson, PB). Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed this nematode as a new species. The nematode was namedPhasmarhabditis zhejiangensissp. nov. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) and is dioecious. In males, the open bursa with genital papillae is characterized by the formula 1-1-1-2-1-3, and the spicule length is 58μm. In female, the vulva is located approximately in the middle of the body. The nematode belongs to papillosa group because of its tail shape pointed with filiform tip. The phasmids are rod-shaped. The posterior anus is slightly swollen.P.zhejiangensiswas further characterized by internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA sequences. After the sequencing results were compared with sequences available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the maximum similarities of ITS, 18S and 28S sequences were 89.81%, 96.22% and 95.28%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses placedPhasmarhabditis zhejiangensissp. nov. in the genusPhasmarhabditis.