https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2026.933
Re-description of Durinemella elongata Andrássy 2009, andUniqaxonchium megaspiculatum Dhanam & Jairajpuri 1998 (Nematoda: Belondiroidea) with emended generic diagnosis
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Accepted: 19 May 2026
Published: 5 November 2026
The population of Durinemella elongata and Uniqaxonchium megaspiculatum were isolated from the soil samples collected from Western Ghats of India. We compared our isolated specimens with the original description of both the species. The inconsistences in morphology, morphometrics, and some errors in the original description of these species encouraged us to re-describe them. The newly recorded specimen of Durinemella elongata showed a thin sheath surrounding the expanded part of the pharynx without spiral bands, which was not mentioned in original description. Additionally, we noted cheilostom with a weak basket-like structure in our specimens, instead of cuticularized refractive elements around oral aperture described originally. Other key characteristics include a cylindrical, tongue-like cardia with the intestine attached at its posterior tip, amphidelphic female genital system, slender and arcuate spicules, 3-4widely spaced ventromedian supplement, and a long, filiform whip-like tail. Uniqaxonchium megaspiculatum is also re-described with new morphological and morphometics data, along with SEM and LMphotographs. It is characterised by an offset lip region, a fusiformodontostyle, pharynx long with its posterior expanded part separated by a deep constriction from the anterior slender part; female genital system mono-opishthodelphic, vagina more than corresponding body diameter deep, highly inclined posteriad. Male with long slender, arcuate spicules, 4-7 ventromedian supplements, along with a short, hemispheroid tail, similar in sexes. Based on this new morphological and morphometrics data, we have emended the generic diagnosis for both the genera Durinemella and Uniqaxonchium, providing detailed description for their type species.
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