Revision of the genus Chordodes (Gordiida, Nematomorpha) from Africa—III: ultrastructural redescription of Chordodes capensis Camerano, 1895, C. clavatus Linstow, 1906, C. digitatus Linstow, 1901, C. tuberculatus Linstow, 1901, and reinterpretation of C. ibembensis Sciacchitano, 1958 and C. uncinatus Sciacchitano, 1958

Abstract

Six species of the genus Chordodes from Africa are investigated in order to certify the taxonomic descriptions and verify the species status. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that the males of Chordodes clavatus and C. digitatus have five types of areoles, while the females of C. clavatus have seven areolar types and the females of C. digitatus have six areolar types. Chordodes capensis also shows this sexual dimorphism, as males have four types of areoles and females have five areolar types. The cuticle of Chordodes tuberculatus contains three areolar types. Chordodes ibembensis and C. uncinatus are synonimized with C. clavatus, because no differences can be detected that justify these species as valid.

Keywords:

• Africa
• Chordodes
• Nematomorpha
• scanning electron microscopy

Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate the help of Bert W. Hoeksema (National Museum of Natural History/Naturalis, The Netherlands), to Rudy Jocqué (Africa Museum Tervuren, Belgium; Koninklijk Museum voor Midden‐Afrika) and to Birger Neuhaus (Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin) for the loan of, and permission to investigate, museum specimens. Many thanks also to Patricia Sarmiento from the Scanning Electron Microscopy Service (Museo de Ciencias Naturales, La Plata, Argentina) for preparation of the material. Many thanks also to two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on the manuscript.