Studies on mononchida of India. III. The genus mylonchulus (family Mylonchulidae Jairajpuri, 1969)

Abstract

Twenty seven populations of Mylonchulus from different parts of India, representing five known and five new species, are described. The known species are: Mylonchulus lacustris, M. minor, M. hawaiiensis, M. brachyuris and M. index. M. mulveyi n. sp. has a mono-prodelphic gonad, a buccal cavity with 4 transverse rows of denticles, lacks submedian teeth, has an elongate-conoid tail 2 anal body-widths long, caudal glands grouped and spinneret terminal. M. dentatus n. sp. resembles M. sigmaturus but differs in the number and distribution of the transverse rows of denticles, and in having very conspicuous submedian teeth and vulval papillae. M. nainitalensis n. sp. is similar to M. brachyuris but has smaller body, tail and spicules and its caudal glands are arranged in tandem. M. muradi n. sp. resembles M. orbitus but differs in having a smaller body, in the absence of a sphincter at the oviduct-uterus junction and the absence of vulval papillae. M. contractus n. sp., has a very small body (0.55-0.90 mm) and a characteristic contraction of the intestine in the region of the gonads. M. californicus n. sp., has been proposed for the Californian population of M. index described by Mulvey (1961). A key to the species of Mylonchulus has been provided.