Thelandros popovi Markov & Bogdanov, 1963

Rahimian, Hassan, Pazoki, Samaneh & Habashi, Sima Abbasi, 2014, Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Laudakia nupta nupta (Sauria: Agamidae) from Iran with Descriptions of Two New Species (Oxyuridea: Pharyngodonidae) and comments on the diagnostic features of Parapharyngodon and Thelandros, Zootaxa 3852 (1), pp. 51-82 : 64

Thelandros popovi Markov & Bogdanov, 1963

Figs. 10–11

General: Body cuticle with prominent annulations beginning just posterior to cephalic extremity; annulations interrupted laterally just posterior to mid-body. Excretory pore posterior to oesophageal bulb, lined by ring of relatively thick cuticle.

Male (based on 10 specimens; mean ± SD [range]): Cylindrical worms, 3.17 ± 0.44 mm (2.44–3.87 mm) long, 211 ± 28 (153–261) wide at the level of excretory pore. Rounded cephalic extremity with triangular mouth and 3 cuticular flaps projecting into oral aperture; no cephalic sense organ visible. Cuticle with annulations approximately 10 µm wide at midbody, but forming broad, swollen rings in posterior region. Oesophageal corpus 684 ± 71 (597–778) long; isthmus 44 ± 4 (37–48) long; bulb 97 ± 6 (89–109) long, 106 ± 10 (93–125) wide. Nerve ring and excretory pore 167 ± 13 (154–190) and 1204 ± 158 (896–1463), respectively, from anterior end. Lateral alae absent. Three pairs of caudal papillae: anterior pair ventrolateral; second pair adcloacal, lateral in position; third pair 51 ± 6 (42–60) from tip of tail filament. Pre- and adcloacal papillae pedunculate; narrow, inflexible cuticular flap at base of precloacal pair ( Fig. 11 A). Tip of anterior cloacal lip divided into principal lobes, each of which may be subdivided into 2 or 3 lobes. Posterior cloacal lip bilobed. Caudal alae extend from base of tail filament to level of last pair of papillae. Spicule 51 ± 3 (46–56) long, slender and straight. Tail filament 76 ± 5 (68–83) long, terminal in position, directed posteriorly.

Female (based on 10 specimens; mean ± SD [range]): Mouth surrounded by 6 prominent processes, each with main pedunculate spherical structure and 2 small membranous cuticular flaps on either side ( Fig. 11 C). Three membranous cuticular flaps project into mouth. Length 4.17 ± 0.65 mm (3.14–4.97 mm), width 362 ± 94 (238–463) at level of vulva. Cuticle with annulations approximately 16 µm in width. Oesophageal corpus 1024 ± 130 (805–1173); isthmus 43 ± 6 (30–52) in length; bulb 138 ± 17 (120–166) long, 160 ± 22 (129–195) wide. Nerve ring, excretory pore, and vulva 199 ± 13 (183–226), 1.63 ± 0.28 mm (1.10–1.96 mm), and 3.00 ± 0.47 mm (2.30–3.57 mm), respectively, from anterior end. Vulva postequatorial; protruding prevulvar cuticle ornamented with several finger-like processes ( Fig. 11 D), usually between 3 to 9 small protuberances. Reproductive structures confined to body cavity between excretory pore and anus. Anus 289 ± 47 (221–395) from posterior end. Eggs oval, 99 ± 9 (81–109) long, 63 ± 5 (56–71) wide, slightly flattened on one side, with terminal operculum. Tail slightly attenuated.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Thelandros popovi. Male: A. General lateral view; B. En face view; C. Anterior end; D. Posterior end, ventral view; E. Posteri

FIGURE 11. Scanning electron micrographs of Thelandros popovi. A. Caudal region of male, arrow indicates basal plate of preanal papillae; B. Posterior region showing broad cuticular annulations; C. Apical view of the cephalic end of female; D. Ventral view of prevulvar extremities and vulva slit. Scale bars = 12 µm (A. C), 40 (D), 60 (B).