Description of Hemicycliophora biosphaera n. sp. from Arizona (Nemata: Criconematidae)

Abstract

Hemicycliophora biosphaera n. sp. (Nemata: Criconematidae) was found in soil from a fallow field plot within the Biosphere 2 Center, Oracle, Arizona. The nematode species is characterized by continuous and irregular breaks in transverse striae in the lateral field, smooth annules, a rounded-truncate lip region with rounded anterior margins, three lip annules, first labial annule elevated and widened laterally, dome-shaped and elevated labial disc, stylet length (76-97 (mum), VA%T value (30-59), 234-273 body annules, and tail with a terminus offset, cylindrical to slightly conoid digit. Hemicycliophora biosphaera n. sp. most closely resembles H. armandae but differs from it in body width (30-39 vs. 38-54 mum), stylet length (76-97 vs. 95-119 mum), greater number of annules between the excretory pore and esophagus base (4-16 vs. 2), length of the tail terminal spike (16-28 vs. 32 mum), lower Rvan value (9-15 vs. 16), and indistinct spetanatheca vs. distinct spermatheca.

Keywords: Arizona; Biosphere 2; Criconematidae; Hemicycliophora; Hemicycliophora biosphaera; armandae; morphology; nematode; new species; sheath nematode; taxonomy.