Two new species of free-living marine nematodes of the genus Elzalia, Elzalia gerlachi sp. nov. and .Elzalia striatitenuis sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China, are described and illustrated. Elzalia gerlachi sp. nov. is characterized by relatively large body length (1540-1740 µm in males; 1510-1780 µm in females), spicules 135-160 µm (3.33-3.90 anal body diameter) and complex gubernaculums. Elzalia striatitenuis sp. nov. is characterized by rather small body size (560-660 µm in males; 570-630 µm in females), short cephalic setae 2.5 µm long (21.4-31.3% of head diameter), spicules 65-85 µm (4.06-4.67 anal body diameter) and relatively simple gubernaculums. The two new species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by length and structure of spicules and gubernaculums. Pictorial and tabular keys to the genus are given. |
