Abstract
Two new genera of nematodes are described from the Caribbean Sea. Cienfuegia gen. nov. belongs to the Xyalidae based on the position of the anterior gonad constantly left of the intestine, cuticle clearly striated, second and third circle of anterior sensilla inserted at the same level and buccal cavity surrounded by pharynx. The new genus is differentiated from other genera by the buccal cavity divided in two chambers and by the four cephalic setae being longer than the six outer labial setae. Within the Xyalidae, Cienfuegia shows most affinities with the genera Daptonema and Theristus. Pseudoterschellingia gen. nov. is placed within the Linhomoeidae on the basis of the presence of anterior rounded amphidial fovea, unarmed narrow buccal cavity, distinctive cardia and presence of apophysis of gubernaculum. Pseudoterschellingia is closely related to the genera Terschellingia and Terschellingioides, but is differentiated by the crypto‐spiral amphidial fovea, and conical buccal cavity surrounded by pharyngeal tissue.
Acknowledgements
Financial support was provided by the International Foundation for Science (research grant IFS A‐4004/1 to M. Armenteros), and Ghent University (doctoral scholarship BOF 01W01607 to M. Armenteros; project BOF 01GZ0705 “Biogeography and Biodiversity of the Sea” to M. Vincx). The Belgian Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative (project 2406JVG2) powered the taxonomic expertise in nematodes of Cuban authors. We thank A. Ruiz‐Abierno for assistance with the processing of samples of nematodes. We thank the staff of the Center for Environmental Studies of Cienfuegos (CEAC) for valuable collaboration, particularly R. Fernández‐Garcés (Cacho), Y. Helguera and L. Díaz‐Asencio for help with sampling and processing of samples. We acknowledge two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments that improved the manuscript.