Dimensions: 5 females (paratypes): L = 0.38-0.41 mm; a
= 30.7-36.6; b = 5.4-5.7; c = 3.08-4.2; V = 61.9-63.7;
stylet = 7-8um
Female (holotype): L = 0.41; a = 31.5; b = 5.7; c
= 4.1; V = 63.7; stylet = 7um
Eelworm slender, ventrally arcuate. Body tapering towards both
the extremities. Cuticle finely striated with annules about 1.3um
apart at mid-body. Lateral field marked by four incisors. Head
continuous, smooth and anteriorly rounded. Two pairs of cephalids
distinct on neck with each cephalid extending over to two annules, anterior
pair located at 2.5um and posterior pair at 7.5um from anterior
end. Excretory pore located at 58um from head end. Stylet
small. Opening of dorsal oesophageal gland located 1.5um behind
stylet base. Median bulb measuring 6um x 3.5um in dimension,
rounded and muscular with weakly developed cuticular thickening.
Basal bulb pyriform . Cardia present.
Vulva a transverse slit without lateral vulval membrane. Ovary
single, prodelphic and outstretched. Post-uterine sac 1/2 of the
corresponding body width in length. Tail filiform measuring 100um
i.e.,
10 anal-body widths in length ending in a pointed terminus.
Male: not found.
Type habitat and locality: Collected around the rhizosphere
of potato (Solannm tuberosum), at Ooti, Tamil Nadu.
Diagnosis and Relationship: Lelenchus annulatus sp. n.
comes close to L. cynodontus Husain andKhan, 1967 L. mirus
and L. microdorus Chawla et al., 1969. The new species,
however, differs from L.cynodontus in having larger 'b'
value and short stylet and also by having two pairs of cephalids on neck
(b = 4.7-5.2; stylet 9-11um; and, cephalids indistinct in
L
cynodontus). From L. mirus it differs in having longer
body and shorter stylet and also by having two pairs of cephalids on neck
(L = 0.35-0.38 mm; stylet 10-11um; and, cephalid absent in L.
mirus). The present species differs from L. microdorus by
having more anteriorly placed vulva, longer stylet and also by the presence
of two pairs of cephalids (V = 65-71; stylet 6-7um; and, cephalids
not seen in L. microdorus).
(Description- Siddiqi and Khan, 1983)
