Gordius pesici, Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, 2010

Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, 2010, Considerations on the genus Gordius (Nematomorpha, horsehair worms), with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 2533, pp. 1-35 : 26

Gordius pesici sp. nov.

( Fig. 9 D–E)

Type material: Holotype: 13, Zoological Museum Hamburg, ZMH V13274 .

Type locality. Montenegro, Budva (coll. September 2, 2006).

Other material examined. No further material.

Etymology. The name honours Vladimir Pešić for his enthusiasm in collecting gordiids on the Balkans.

Description. The body color is medium brown; white spots are present on the cuticle. The anterior end includes a white tip followed by a black collar, dark median lines are absent. The specimen is 105 mm long and has a diameter of 0.5 mm.

The postcloacal crescent is about parabolic and continues to about half the length of the tail lobes ( Fig. 9 D). The crescent is directly at the point of bifurcation. The entire posterior end contains folds and the cloacal opening could not be observed in detail. The tail lobes are about twice as long as broad, their inner side is slightly concave. Scattered tiny bristles are present on the entire posterior end ( Fig. 9 D).

The cuticle includes numerous knob-like structures which are often fused to long strings ( Fig. 9 E). Each single element is ca oval. Fusion occurs always on the narrow side, resulting in strings. Sometimes fusion takes place not directly on the tip, but slightly lateral, resulting in slightly zig-zaging strings. The strings are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the animal.

Remarks. The cuticular pattern closely resembles that of G. g e s n e r i Heinze, 1937 from Germany and Croatia ( Heinze 1937; Čanadjija 1956), but differs from this species by the lack of the characteristic indentations on the inner side of the tail lobes (see above under G. balcanicus ). The cuticular strings appear as elevated fusion products of areole-like structures, but in G. balcanicus the appearance is more like a smooth cuticle with grooves. Therefore, the character combination of this specimen is new and justifies the description of a new species.

Figures

FIGURE 9. A – C. Gordius karwendeli sp. nov., D – E. G. p e s i c i sp. nov. A. Posterior end. B. Magnification from the posterior end showing smooth region on the inner side of the tail lobes and characteristic arrangement of bristles. C. Polygonal regionalization of the cuticular surface. D. Posterior end. E. Structure of the cuticle.