Zalonema Cobb, 1920

Chen, Yuzhen & Guo, Yuqing, 2025, Two new nematode species of the genus Zalonema (Desmodorida, Desmodoridae, Desmodorinae) from mangrove wetlands, China, ZooKeys 1260, pp. 195-211 : 195-211

Genus Zalonema Cobb, 1920

Generic diagnosis.

(modified from Leduc 2022): Body long, cylindrical, gold-brown under light microscope with glass-like or golden cephalic capsule. Cuticular annuli close together, usually without ornamentation. Cephalic capsule rounded, triangular. Labial sensilla inconspicuous, 6 + 6, cephalic setae four, followed by four to eight subcephalic setae or papillae located anteriorly, posteriorly, or at same level as the amphids, amphideal fovea multispiral (two turns or more) located on the cephalic capsule. Short and small somatic setae arranged in several longitudinal rows. Pharynx cylindrical with pyriform basal bulb. Male reproductive system monorchic. Spicules slightly arched, cuticularized, without velum. Gubernaculum short, ventral and / or lateral alae sometimes present in males (ventral ala sometimes difficult to distinguish). Precloacal supplements present or absent. Female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic, with reflected ovaries. Tail conical. Caudal gland ducts and spinneret conspicuous.