Distribution of Mononchoidea (Nematoda: Enoplea) in pasture soils, with description of lotonchus stockdilli n. sp.

Abstract

Across 64 sites 8 species were found, with Clarkus propapillatus at 60 sites, C. composticola at 7, Prionchulus muscorum at 3, Mylonchulus ubis at 7, M. sigmaturus at 1, Cobbonchus australis at 9, lotonchus basidontus at 4, and I. stockdilli n. sp. at 3 sites. Sampling effort varied at the sites and significant annual and management effects have previously been reported on mononchid populations. No clear geographic or soil factor is apparent in the distributions, but more species may occur at sites with higher annual rainfall. lotonchus stockdilli n. sp. is a large (female L = 3.05–5.90 mm), bisexual species with dorsal tooth at the posterior of the sclerite, female tail about 400 μm or 14%, and no cuticular pores in the vulval region.

Keywords:

• Mononchida
• lotonchus stockdilli n. sp.
• pasture
• distribution
• diversity