Myleusnema brasiliense sp. n. (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae), a new intestinal parasite of the serrasalmid fish Myleus sp. in Brazil

Abstract

A new kathlaniid nematode, Myleusnema brasiliense sp. n., is described from the intestine of a characoid fish, Myleus sp. (Serrasalmidae, Cypriniformes), from Brazil. It differs from the only other congeneric species Myleusnema bicornis Moravec et Thatcher, 1996 mainly in having an unseparated cephalic portion of the body, lips provided with flanges with numerous spike-like appendages, deirids situated more posteriorly, more numerous (8 pairs) subventral preanal papillae in the male, and distinctly longer spicules (1.58-1.70 mm). The species description is based on light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations.