Abstract

A new species of free-living marine nematode is described from Itapuã beach, northeast of Brazil. Pomponema veronicae sp. n. differs from other species of Pomponema by having buccal cavity with large pointed dorsal tooth, two subventral teeth and pairs of denticles, gubernaculum with two L-shaped lateral plates and having a membrane at its distal end that connects to L-shaped plate, and presence of a ventral orifice at distal end of L-shaped plates. It also differs from other species in the size of spicules and gubernaculum. The new species is considered most closely related to Parapomponema species because of the L-shaped lateral plates of gubernaculum, but the taxonomic status of Parapomponema was reviewed and Parapomponema and Propomponema are now synonymized with Pomponema. Pomponema cyatholaimoides is considered as a species inquirendum and Pomponema carinatum is accepted as Pomponema loticum. An updated identification key to species of Pomponema is included.