Neira, C.; Decraemer, W. (2009). Desmotersia levinae, a new genus and new species of free-living nematode from bathyal oxygen minimum zone sediments off Callao, Peru, with discussion on the classification of the genus Richtersia (Chromadorida: Selachinematidae). Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 9(1): 1.e1-1.e15.
Desmotersia levinae, a new genus and new species of free-living nematode from bathyal oxygen minimum zone sediments off Callao, Peru, with discussion on the classification of the genus Richtersia (Chromadorida: Selachinematidae)
Desmotersialevinae gen. n.,sp.n.isproposed,basedonmaterialfoundinbathyaloxygenminimumzonesediments
off thecoastofPeru. Desmotersia closely resembles Richtersia in theanimals’generalappearanceandinspiny
ornamentationofthebodycuticle,butclearlydiffersinstomastructureandbythepresenceofadorsaltooth.
The systematicpositionsofthetwogeneraarediscussed,since Desmotersia apparently forms a link between
Selachinematidae and Desmodoridae. Desmotersia levinae is characterized by a variety of spiny ornamentations
anteriorly formed by bipartite spines arranged into a fin-like picket fence,by a head with anasymmetrical cephalic
capsule, presence of two closely spaced ventral longitudinal rows of copulatory thorns,and by 2–4 ventral thorns in mid-tail positions on the male. The interaction between the new species and its habitat is discussed.