Five new records of free-living marine nematodes (Nematoda: Enoplida) from Indian waters

Abstract

The present study provides information about the systematics of nematodes along the continental shelf region of the Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal during the period from March 2009 to February 2010. Monthly samples were collected from six GPS selected locations i.e., 10, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100m. 4996 specimens were enumerated belong to 125 nematode species, 78 genera and 31 families. Among these five species were found which proved to be new records from India. Species are described below as <i>Enoploides longispiculosus </i> and <i>Enoplolaimus subterraneus </i> (Thoracostomopsidae), <i>Phanoderma albidum </i> (Phanodermatidae), <i>Leptosomatum elongatum </i> (Leptsomatidae) and <i>Rhabdodemania major </i> (Rhabdodemaniidae).