Chordodes ecuatoriensis Villalobos, Zanca & Yanez, 2009, n. sp.

Chordodes ecuatoriensis n. sp.

(Figures 4, 5)

Holotype: 1 male [QCAZI 2039], [MLP 5942] Orellana, Scientific Station Yasuní, Ecuador (06º13´10´´ S - 74º40´50´´ W). G. Carotti col. 14/02/2002.

Host: Unknown.

Description. The body color is light brown with “leopard pattern”, i.e. patches of dark color. The body length is 137 mm and the diameter is 1 mm. The posterior end (Figs. 4 A, 4B) is rounded, being slightly bifid in the sense of having 2 small protruding lobe-like structures which are separated by a ventral groove. The cloacal opening is ventral and subterminal, situated 153 µm anterior of the posterior margin of the worm. The cloacal opening is narrow, oval (70 µm long and 16.9 µm wide) and with scarce circumcloacal spines. Short spines are distributed in the ventral region around the cloacal opening. Anterolateral to the cloacal opening are two rows of bristles (bristlefields).

Features of the cuticle can be seen using SEM (Figs. 4 C, 5A, 5B) to exhibit 4 types of areoles: simple, bulging, tubercle and crowned areoles. Simple areoles, the most abundant type, are low, oval or rectangular in shape. Apically, these areoles show a granular surface. Bulging areoles are isolated or form clusters of two areoles. These areoles are rounded, higher than the simple areoles and with a roughly structured surface. Between these two types of areoles are scattered areoles with a tubercle on top (tubercle areoles). Crowned areoles are highly elevated (22 µm) above the cuticular surface and have a slender stem. Crowned areoles occur in clusters of two, three or four areoles and have short filaments on top (Figs. 5 A, 5B).

Comments. Chordodes ecuatoriensis belongs to a group of Chordodes species in which circumcluster areoles are lacking and simple areoles are strongly structured (see Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2008). This species is characterized by the presence of small crowned areoles clusters with short apical filaments, simple, bulging and tubercle areoles. This cuticular pattern is unique and differs from other known Chordodes species and justifies the description of a new species.