). Zoo/. Soc.

India, 33

1 &

2)

141148 1981

CHARACTERS TO BE OBSERVED AND CONSIDERED AT THE SPECIFIC

LEVEL IN THE TAXONOMY OF DORYLAIMINA ( NEMATODA)
GAISER H. BAQRI

Zoological Survey of India,

27-Jawaharlal Nthru Road,

Calcuua-700 016,

Apart from hasty decisions and observations, most of the co nfusions in the systematics
of nematodes at the ge neric and specific level are due to inadequate descriptions and
illustrations.

While suggesting the data to be considered for the description of a new

species of nematode , Goodey

( 1959 )

stated, "Many descriptions

publihed today

lack

certain details which, although when described may not appear important, neverth e les s give

a f u l l er and more rounded picture of the species and may later become of importance.''
Goodey's ( I. c. ) outline for the d e scr i ption of a new species of nematode is out-dated now
because the standards applicable to the different groups of nematodes are entirely different.
A worker has also to be careful in using correct trminology .
The present paper deals specifically with nematodes
Dorylaimina.

belonging to the

s u border

Apart from the de Manain formula, the following characters should be taken

into consideration while describing a new species and/or genus .

Body s ha p e - N atura l posture u pon relaxation or fi xation .
Cuticl e-Thickness below lip region , mid-body and at tail regions; s mooth or striated, in
case of s triati ons-fine, distinct or coarse ; presence or absence of longitudi n al lines in cuticle
assists in the identification of various taxa in the suborder Dorylaimina.

In some publications

the longitudinal lines have been confused with somatic musculature, resulting in erroneous
identifications.

The

presence

of

such lines or ridges

at the uppermost surface of the cuticle.

The number

may be observed by focussing

of longitudinal lines is also

an

important taxonomic character at the spe ci fic level ; these longitudinal line s can be correctly
counted only in the transverse section through mid-body.
Body pores -The exact number of dorsal; ventral and lateral body pores should be reported
region-wise, e. g., in the neck region, intestinal reglon, and ta ll.

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Lateral chords -Nature; width in relation to corre:sponding body-width near middle ; region

wise number and arrangement of glandular organs, if present.

Lip region-Offset or contiuous, well offset or slightly offset; wider or narrower than

adjoining body; general stiape; width at base of neck divided by lip region-width
lip region-width divided by lip region-height
papillae.

A;

B : shape of lips ; arrangement of labial

If disc., liplets or sclerotized pieces are present ; these should be illustrated and

described accurately.
Amphids -Shape of amphidial pouch (fovea ) ; absolute width of amphidial slit, and its

ratio with corresponding body-width; position from anterior extremity,

Abso.lute position of

sensillar pouches ( fuses ) from amphidial slit.

Stoma-Size and shape of stomata! cavity is very important; every special differentiation
should be described and illustrated in detail.
Teeth

& Too th - General appearance or shape, position and length.

O d o ntosty l e - General appearance or shape, absolute length and ratio with head-width,
width in relation to body cuticle at that level ; length of dorsal oblique aperture and ratio with
odontostyle length; any unique feature,
Guiding ring-A ccord i ng to Goodey

( 1961 ) and Coomans ( 1963 ) the guiding apparatus

has the same basic structure in all dorylaims, i. e.. comprising the fixed sclerotized ring
( weak or strong ) and attached guiding sheath,

Since the position of the fixed guiding

ring is as table and important character, it should be mentioned in

end as well as the ratio with the head-width.

micrometres from anterior

When the fixed ring is posteriorly situated, the

sheath is folded even when the odontostyle is fully retracted, hence

the guiding ring

appears "double".
O do nto ph ore - General appearance, any special feature like curved

or

knobbed

etc.;

distinctly or poorly demarcated from oesophageal lining; absolute length and ratio with
odontostyle length.
Oesophagus -If there is a-ny difference between the tissues of anterior slender and basal

expanded p:1rts of oesophagus ; the anterior slender part either expands gradually or suddenly

BAQR/-TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS

143

IN DORYLAlMS

to form the basal expanded part or offset by a constriction; basal expanded part as percentage
of total oesophageal length or neck length.

In some groups, the basal or enlarged part of

oesophagus is surrounded by a weak or strong muscular sheath.

The muscle bundles forming

the sheath may be straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the oesophagus,
twisted or spiral.

When spiral, the arrangement is either clockwise

or

slightly

anti-clockwise.

The difference in the arrangement of muscle bundles is of taxonomic importance.

Thus, all

elforts should be made to illustrate and describe the exact arrangement.

loof and Coomans ( 1970) have shown that the location of oesophageal gland nuclei
and their orifices is a constant feature in different groups.

It is,

therefore, suggested that

special care should be taken in measuring and calculating the values of all oesophageal
glands ( usually 5, sometimes 3 ) and their orifices.
The

exact shape and siza of the oesophago-intestinal junction or cardia should be

described.

Sometimes the cardia is enveloped by intestinal tissue which may obscure its

exact shape.
The presence or absence of an oesophago-intestinal disc and of cardiac glands is also
important.
Above the nerve ring sometimes there are two small subventral structures, probably
sensory organs, in the cuticular lining of the oesophagus, called ''endolids'' ; their presence
and development should be noted,
Hemizon i d - If visible, conspicuous or inconspicuous and position.
Nerve ring -Absolute position from anterior end in micrometres and percentage calculated
from total oesophageal length.
Intestine :-Opacity and size of granules.
Preretum :- The length in micrometres and its ratio with the anal body-width.
if visible in lumen, should be illustrated with exact length and width
cter.like structure is present at intestine.prerectum
visible at the intestine-prerectum ju nction.

junction.

Microvilli,

Occasionally a sphin

Sometimes a constriction is

Presence of postrectal sac is also important

taxonomic point of view.

from

144

JOURNAL OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF !NOIA 33

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),

Rectum : -Absolute length in micrcmotres and its ratio with anal body-width.

of rectal glands shOuld also be mentioned, if visible

/981

The presence

FEMALE

Vulva -Position; whether protruded or fl u sh with body or situated in a depression ; slit

like, oval or pore-like ; if slit-like-transverse or longitudinal.
Vagina : - S hape and thickness of wall; absolute length and ratio with corresponding body

width; sclerotized distally or not; sphincter like structures encircling the vaginal walls.
-

Special care should be taken in sketching the exact shape of vagina because of its taxonomic
value.
Genital

tract

:-

Didelphic or

monodelphic.

In

case

of

monodelphic-prodelphic

or

opisthodelphic, trully monocielphic or pseudomonodelphic ; in pseudomonodelphic species

the lengt h of uterine sac in micrometres and its relationship with the corresponding body
width.

Its p resen c e and development should be indic ated.

Ovejector:

Shape and length ; differentiation between distal glandular and proximal muscular

Uterus :

part should be noted; the presence or absence of

..

z organs or p seudo

''

organs which

are globula r or sclerotized bodies of unknown origin in the lumen of the median uterus.
Oviduct

developed.

Shape and length in relation to uterus ; proximal expanded patt well or weakly
The oviduct and uterus are separated by sphincter that may be

well or weakly

developed.
Reflexed once or twice; the number of , rows of o o gon ia

Ovary :

or oocytes in growth

zone and germinal zone.

Sperm :

Presence or absence should be noted ; place of storage ; size and shape of

spermatozoa.

Egg

Size, shape and number

Tail :-Shape ; absolute length, ratio with anal body-width ; the number and distribution of

caudal pores ; occassionally the saccate bodies are also present.

MQRl-TAXONOMIC

145

CHAHACTERS IN DORYLAIMS

MALE

Male gonad :-The male gonad should be illu,strated/described with the following details:

Testes (dorylaimina nematodes are diorchic) ; gonoduct eventually differentiated in a vas

deferens and ejaculatory duct ; ejaculatory glands, if present; spetmatozoa with exact shape
and length.
exact length along the median line is very important from

taxonomic point of view, the length should further be indicated in relation to anal body
Spicules :

The shape and

width.
Lateral guiding pieces :-Shape and absolute length in micrometres.
Adanal and . Ventromedian

Supplements :

The

number;

spaced,

contiguous,

or

arranged in fascicles; if spaced, regularly or irregularly ; if in fascicles, the number of

fascicles and number of supplements in each fascicles.

The space between adanal and

first vantromedian supplement ; the position of the last supplement should also be mentioned.
Subventral papillae :-The exact number, arrangement and the area occupied.
Copulatory muscles :

The exact number and the area occupied.

Tail :-Similar or dissimilar to female ; &hape;

absolute

width; the number and distribution of caudal pores.

length and ratio with anal body

Any other information.

/

JUVENILES

Juveniles, if available, should also be included in descriptions and illustrations.

Characters to be considered (apart from body dimensions) :

Similar or dissimilar to

adults in general shape and morphology; length of active odontostyle in

length of replacement odontostyle in micrometres ; distance of replacement

micrometres
odontostyle

tip from anterior extremity in micrometres ; length and width of gonodial primordium in
micrometres.
Note:

Tail shape and length.

The microscope, which is the most important instrument for a taxonomist, should

have a good resolution and illumination arrangement.

Apart from this, a worker should

use this instrument optimally to observe the minute characters.

A sharp pointed pencil should

JOURNAL OF Tl-IE ZOOLOGiCAL SOCIETY OF iNDIA

146

33 ( I & 2

) , 1981

ba used to maintain the accuracy of curvatures and exact shape, viz. head shape, amphids,
odontostyle, vagina, spicules, lateral guiding pieces, etc.
Some useful publications on the subject {descriptions, illustrations,

measurements

and diagnostic tables, terminology etc. have been referred below.

ACKNOWLEDG MENT
The author is highly indebted to Prof. Dr. A. Coomans and Dr.

M. S. Jairajpuri who

contributed many ideas, much inspiration and critically reviewed the manuscript.

T hanks

are also due to the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta for providing the research
facilities.

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148

JOURNAL OF THE .ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA 33

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), 1981