Abstract
Seven specimens of the family Benthimermithidae from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (Eastern Tropic Pacific), from the depths 4,800–5,040 m, were examined. Bathynema nodinauti gen. et sp. n. is described. The new genus differs from other genera of Benthimermithidae by the presence of an inner pharyngeal lumen. Four new species of Trophomera are also described. Body length of female of T. elegantis sp. n. approximately 1.5 mm; body cylindrical, anterior and posterior ends in shape of rounded cone; cephalic setae 2.0–2.5 μm long; trophosome consisting of 1 row of cells; female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, occupying approximately 1/6 of total body length; ovaries reflected; diameter of mature eggs 17 μm; males not found. Body length of female of T. minutissima sp. n. 0.9 mm; body cylindrical, with thickest body part at anterior half of body; anterior and posterior ends rounded; cephalic setae 1.5 μm long; trophosome consisting of 1 row of cells; female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, occupying approximately 1/3 of total body length; ovaries reflected; size of mature eggs 24x23 μm; males not found. Body length of female of T. pacifica sp. n. 5.4 mm; body cylindrical, anterior end rounded; posterior end conical, with thick conical terminal spine 81 μm long, showing granular core; cephalic setae 2.5 μm long inserted in tiny pits; trophosome consisting of 1 row of cells; female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, occupying approximately 2/3 of total body length; ovaries outstretched; size of mature eggs 34x20 μm; males not found. Body length of female of T. senckenbergi sp. n. 1.6 mm; body fusiform; anterior and posterior ends in shape of a cone with rounded tip; cephalic setae 2 μm long; trophosome consisting of 1 row of cells; female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, occupying approximately 1/6 of total body length; ovaries non-reflected; males not found. The new finding of T. marionensis is recorded. One rest specimen (in bad condition) of a new species is described as a morphotype. A dichotomous key to the genera of the Benthimermithidae and tabular keys to Trophomera species are presented.References
Bussau, C. (1993) Taxonomische und ökologische Untersuchungen an Nematoden des Peru-Beckens. Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. 621 pp.
Chesunov, A. V. (1988a) A case of nematode parasitism in nematodes. A new find and re-description of a rare species Benthimermis australis Petter, 1983 (Nematoda: Marimermithida: Benthimermithidae) in South Atlantic. Helminthologia, 25, 115–128.
Chesunov, A.V. (1988b) [New finds of deep-sea nematodes of the family Benthimermithidae in South Atlantic with description of a new species.] Vestnik Zoologii, 5, 12–22. In Russian.
Chesunov, A.V. (1997) Marimermithids (Nematoda): anatomy, taxonomy, and phylogeny. Russian Journal of Zoology, 1, 440–455.
Hope W. D. (1977) Gutless nematodes of the deep-sea. Mikrofauna des Meersbodens, 61, 307–308.
Khripounoff, A., Caprais, J.-C., Crassous, P. (2006) Geochemical and biological recovery of the disturbed seafloor in polymetallic nodule fields of the Clipperton-Clarion Fracture Zone (CCFZ) at 5,000-m depth. Limnology and Oceanography, 51(5) 203, 32–41.
McIntyre, A.D. & Warwick, R.M. (1984) Meiofauna techniques. In: Holme, N.A. & McIntyre, A.D. (Eds.), Methods for the Study of Marine Benthos. Blackwell Scientific Publishers, Oxford, pp. 217–244.
Miljutin, D. M. (2004) New findings of deep-sea nematodes of the family Benthimermithidae Petter, 1980 with descriptions of seven new species. Zoosystema, 26(1), 21–48.
Miljutin, D. M. (2006) The genus Trophomera Rubtzov & Platonova, 1974 with description of T. litoralis sp. n. (Nematoda: Benthimermithidae) from the tidal zone of the Kuril Archipelago and proposal of Benthimermis Petter, 1980 as a junior synonym. Nematology, 8(3), 411–423.
Petter, A.-J. (1980) Une nouvelle famille de Nématodes parasites d'Invertébrés marins, les Benthimermithidae. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée, 55(2), 209–224.
Petter, A.-J. (1981a) Description des mâles de trois nouvelles espèces de nématodes de la famille des Benthimermithidae. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 4e série, 3, section A 2, 455–465.
Petter, A.-J. (1981b) Description des mâles d’une nouvelles espèce de nématode marin de la famille des Benthimermithidae. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée 56, 285–295.
Petter, A.-J. (1982a) Benthimermis gracilis n. sp., nouveau mâle de la famille des Benthimermithidae (Nematoda). Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, 4e série, 9, section A, 1–2, 71–74.
Petter, A.-J. (1982b) Description de deux nouveaux mâles de la famille des Benthimermithidae (Nematoda) de l’Atlantique sud-oriental. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 4e série, 9, section A 3–4, 397–403.
Petter, A.-J. (1983a) Description d’un nouveau genre de Benthimermithidae (Nematoda) présentant des utérus munis de glandes annexes. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée, 58, 177–184.
Petter, A.-J. (1983b) Quelques nouvelles espèces du genre Benthimermis Petter, 1980 (Benthimermithidae: Nematoda) du Sud de l'Océan Indien. Systematic Parasitology, 5, 1–15.
Petter, A.-J. (1987) Quelques nouvelles espèces de femelles du genre Benthimermis Petter, 1980 (Benthimermithidae: Nematoda) des grands fonds de la mer de Norvège. Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, 4e série, 9, section A 3, 565–578.
Petter, A. J. & Gourbault, N. (1985) Nématodes abyssaux (campagne Walda du N/O “Jean Charcot”) IV. Des nématodes parasites de Nématodes. Bulletin du Musèum national d’Histoire naturelle 4-e série, 7, section A, no. 1, 125–130.
Rubtzov, I. A. (1980) [The new marine parasitic nematode, Abos bathycola, from priapulids and a taxonomic position of the family Marimermithidae in the class Nematoda]. Parazitologiya, 14, 177–181. In Russian with English summary.
Rubtzov, I.A. & Platonova, T.A. (1974) [A new family of marine parasitic nematodes.] Zoologicheskij Zhurnal, 53, 1445–1458. In Russian with English summary.
Seinhorst, J. W. (1959) A rapid method for the transfer of nematodes from fixative to anhydrous glycerin. Nematologica, 4, 67–69.