Moravecnema segonzaci gen. et sp. n. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from Pachycara thermophilum (Zoarcidae), a deep-sea hydrothermal vent fish from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

A new cystidicolid nematode, Moravecnema segonzaci gen. et sp. n. is described from the intestine of the teleost fish Pachycara thermophilum Geistdoerfer (Zoarcidae) from the hydrothermal sites Logatchev and Snake Pit-Moose of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at depths of 3,008; 3,492, and 3,510 m. The new genus Moravecnema is characterised by a dorsoventrally elongated oral opening, rudimentary pseudolabia, and four pairs of precloacal and six pairs of postcloacal caudal papillae in the male. The species has two spicules of unequal length, about 330 and 80 μm long. Males are about 5 mm and females about 5-10 mm long. Eggs have long thin polar filaments. This is the first species of parasitic nematode described from a fish endemic to hydrothermal deep-sea vents.