A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China

Gordius wulingensis sp. nov., a newly described horsehair worm, parasitizes Tachycines (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae). Free-living specimens are mainly found in karstic cave puddles. In recent years, a total of 37 creamy white horsehair worms were collected from various caves in the Wuling Mountains...

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Main Authors: Ya-Zhen Zou, Jie Huang, Hai-Yang Xiang, Shi Li, Yan Tang, Zhi-Xiao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-05-01
Series:Zoosystematics and Evolution
Online Access:https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151890/download/pdf/
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author Ya-Zhen Zou
Jie Huang
Hai-Yang Xiang
Shi Li
Yan Tang
Zhi-Xiao Liu
author_facet Ya-Zhen Zou
Jie Huang
Hai-Yang Xiang
Shi Li
Yan Tang
Zhi-Xiao Liu
author_sort Ya-Zhen Zou
collection DOAJ
description Gordius wulingensis sp. nov., a newly described horsehair worm, parasitizes Tachycines (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae). Free-living specimens are mainly found in karstic cave puddles. In recent years, a total of 37 creamy white horsehair worms were collected from various caves in the Wuling Mountains. Characteristic for the species is that males exhibit concentrated bristles at the tips of the inner lobes and scattered bristles along the posterior half of the caudal lobe. The inner wall of the cloacal opening displays honeycombed areoles. The body cuticle contains dense bristles in the anterior and posterior ends; the density of bristles is decreasing in the mid-body. Distinct longitudinal sharp ridges are visible on the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Adults are present in caves year-round, while the entire life cycle is completed within the caves. In the laboratory, specimens can be kept alive for more than 3 months.
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id doaj-art-dce5bfc2e65c4d3ea61b378224404576
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issn 1860-0743
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Pensoft Publishers
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series Zoosystematics and Evolution
spelling doaj-art-dce5bfc2e65c4d3ea61b3782244045762025-08-20T02:57:08ZengPensoft PublishersZoosystematics and Evolution1860-07432025-05-01101390791810.3897/zse.101.151890151890A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central ChinaYa-Zhen Zou0Jie Huang1Hai-Yang Xiang2Shi Li3Yan Tang4Zhi-Xiao Liu5Jishou UniversityJishou UniversityJishou UniversityJishou UniversityJishou UniversityJishou UniversityGordius wulingensis sp. nov., a newly described horsehair worm, parasitizes Tachycines (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae). Free-living specimens are mainly found in karstic cave puddles. In recent years, a total of 37 creamy white horsehair worms were collected from various caves in the Wuling Mountains. Characteristic for the species is that males exhibit concentrated bristles at the tips of the inner lobes and scattered bristles along the posterior half of the caudal lobe. The inner wall of the cloacal opening displays honeycombed areoles. The body cuticle contains dense bristles in the anterior and posterior ends; the density of bristles is decreasing in the mid-body. Distinct longitudinal sharp ridges are visible on the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Adults are present in caves year-round, while the entire life cycle is completed within the caves. In the laboratory, specimens can be kept alive for more than 3 months.https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151890/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Ya-Zhen Zou
Jie Huang
Hai-Yang Xiang
Shi Li
Yan Tang
Zhi-Xiao Liu
A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
Zoosystematics and Evolution
title A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
title_full A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
title_fullStr A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
title_full_unstemmed A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
title_short A new species of Gordius (Nematomorpha, Gordiidae) from the karstic caves in the Wuling Mountains, Central China
title_sort new species of gordius nematomorpha gordiidae from the karstic caves in the wuling mountains central china
url https://zse.pensoft.net/article/151890/download/pdf/
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