Westindicus Thorne, 1967

Andrássy, István, 2012, On the “ Paractinolaimus ” genus group (Nematoda: Actinolaimidae), with description of five new and two rare species of Egtitus Thorne, 1967, Journal of Natural History 46 (7 - 8), pp. 453-494 : 490-493

Westindicus Thorne, 1967

With general structures of the “ Paractinolaimus ” genus group. Special characters are as follows. Body 1.9–3.0 mm long. Labial region wider than adjacent neck, well offset. Labial chamber quite small and shallow, dental chamber roomy, as wide as or wider than labial chamber with strongly ribbed walls and several fine denticles. Onchia simple. Odontostyle 0.8–1.3 times the labial diameter long. Vulva longitudinal or transverse with sclerotized lips. Male supplements small, 5–17 in number, spaced or closely arranged. Female tail elongate-conoid, 3–11 anal body widths long (see also Table 4).

Type species: Westindicus brachycephalus Thorne, 1967 .

Among the related genera, Westindicus is characterized in having a broad head, heavily ribbed, basket-like vestibular walls and dental chamber as wide as or wider than labial chamber.

Six species can be placed under this genus.

Westindicus cheongsongensis Choi, Duan and Baek, 1998

Egtitus cheongsongensis ( Choi, Duan and Baek, 1998) Andrássy, 2011 Westindicus brachycephalus Thorne, 1967

Westindicus cinctus (Cobb in Thorne, 1939) Thorne, 1967

Actinolaimus cinctus Cobb in Thorne, 1939

Westindicus keralaensis Khan, Ahmad and Jairajpuri, 1994

Egtitus keralaensis (Khan, Ahmad and Jairajpuri, 1994) Andrássy, 2011 Westindicus oceanicus Andrássy, 2011

Westindicus rapax Hunt, 1978

Further nominal species

Westindicus sanaensis Khan, Park and Choi, 1999 . Because of the narrow head and the moderately ribbed vestible this species better fits under Paractinolaimus , as P. sanaensis ( Khan, Park and Choi, 1999) comb. nov.

This genus shows a disjunct distribution pattern, inasmuch as three species occur in Asia ( Seychelles Islands, India and Korea) and another three in Central America ( Puerto Rico, Jamaica and St. Lucia).

Key to species of Westindicus

1. Female tail shorter, 3–5 anal body diameters.............................. 2 Female tail longer, 8–11 anal body diameters.............................. 4

2. Tail 165–255 µm long............................ W. brachycephalus Thorne Tail 100–110 µm long.................................................... 3

3. Tail three anal body widths long. W. keralaensis Khan, Ahmad and Jairajpuri Tail about five anal body widths long........... W. cinctus (Cobb in Thorne)

4. Male supplements 15–17.... W. cheongsongensis Choi, Duan and Baek, 1998 Male supplements 7–8................................................... 5

5. Lip region 19–20 µm wide; body about 2 mm ........ W. oceanicus Andrássy Lip region 28–32 µm wide; body 2.4–3.0 mm................. W. rapax Hunt

Geographical distribution of species of the four genera discussed

Asia–Australasia (30 species)

Egtitus andhricus ( India, Korea), E. arcuatus ( Korea) , E. biformis ( Papua New Guinea), E. conicaudatus ( Japan) , E. itanagrus ( India, Seychelles, China), E. japonicus ( Japan) , E. kagoshimai ( Japan) , E. kazirangus ( India) , E. koriensis ( Korea) , E. longicaudatus ( Papua New Guinea), E. naunii ( India) , E. neocyatholaimus ( India, Papua New Guinea), E. neoelaboratus ( India) , E. nipponicus ( Japan) , E. nudus ( China) , E. peteri ( Japan) , E. proximus ( New Hebrides), E. remotus ( Papua New Guinea), E. shillongensis ( India) , E. siddharthi ( India) , E. sinensis ( China) , E. zealandicus ( Seychelles, New Zealand); Westindicus cheongsongensis ( Korea) , W. keralaensis ( India) , W. oceanicus ( Seychelles) ; Stopractinca futai ( Japan) , S. glandula ( Korea) , S. kyotoensis ( Japan) , S. malnadensis ( India) , S. orientalis ( India) .

Central and South America (nine species)

Egtitus bryophilus ( Puerto Rico, Peru), E. chilenus ( Chile) , E. elaboratus (Hawaii) , E. surinamensis ( Surinam, Guayana); Westindicus brachycephalus ( Puerto Rico),

W. cinctus ( Jamaica) , W. rapax (St Lucia) ; Nothactinolaimus lacustris ( Surinam) ; Stopractinca cyatholaimus ( Paraguay) .

Africa (two species)

Egtitus africanus ( Congo, South Africa, Mauritius), E. prodenticulatus ( South Africa).