NEW SPECIES OF FREE-LIVING MARINE NEMATODES OF THE FAMILY LEPTOLAIMIDAE FROM PATAGONIA COAST (CHUBUT AND SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA). [NOVAS ESPÉCIES DE NEMATÓIDES DE VIDA LIVRE DA FAMÍLIA LEPTOLAIMIDAE DA COSTA PATAGÔNICA (CHUBUT AND SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINA).

PASTOR DE WARD, CATALINA TERESA; LO RUSSO, VIRGINIA; VILLARES, GABRIELA; RUBILAR, TAMARA

Recife, Brasil

Congreso; Segundo congreso internacional de nematologia tropical– ONTA/SBN; 2009

Organización de Nematólogos de los Trópicos Americanos

This work focuses on free-living marine nematodes of the family Leptolaimidae Örley, 1880. This family comprises a group of 31 heterogeneous genera grouped into three subfamilies: Anonchinae Andrassy, 1973, Camacolaiminae Micoletzky, 1924 and Leptolaiminae Örley, 1880. Ten littoral areas have been sampled along Patagonian coast between 40º to 49ºS. In each site fifteen samples were collected, at upper, middle and lower littoral with a Plexiglas corer. The samples have been fixed in 5% formalin with Rose Bengal in the field. The Nematodes found were identified, drew and described using a microscope. Three probably new species belonging to the subfamily Leptolaiminae and the genera Leptolaimus, Antomicron and Dagda are described from Patagonian coastal areas, Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces of Argentina. Leptolaimus sp. is characterized by the number of supplements (three) with hamate distal end, as two hooks, it has been found in low intertidal level, San Julian bay (Santa Cruz). Antomicron sp. differs from the four species of the genus by having 35 alveoli on esophageal region and three precloacal supplements and has been found in low intertidal level, San Julian bay (Santa Cruz). Dagda sp. differs from the other three species of the genus by having one papillae on tail and cephalic setae shorter than cephalic diameter, it has been found from coastal groundwater in Puerto Madryn bay (Chubut).