Swedish Plectida (Nematoda). Part 3. The genus Loveninema gen. n.

A new genus Loveninema gen. n., with two new species L. tubulosa gen. n., sp. n. and L. unicornis gen. n., sp. n. is described from bottom sediments collected in Skagerrak off the west coast of Sweden. Loveninema gen. n. is unique among other genera of Plectida by possessing a midventral labial projection located on the ventral edge of the oral opening and protruding anteriorly. Other diagnostic characters include: sclerotised labial framework in the shape of a conoid ring with three projections extending posteriorly: one mid-dorsal, one left-subventral and one right-subventral; papilliform outer labial and cephalic sensilla; amphidial fovea a transverse slit located anterior to cephalic sensilla bases; excretory pore opening on the ventral side of the labial region; pharynx uniformly muscular, cylindrical; female reproductive system didelphic, amphidelphic; male reproductive system monorchic, with reflexed testis; spicules present; gubernaculum present or absent; either alveolar or tubular supplements present in males, absent in females; caudal glands and spinneret present. L. tubulosa gen. n., sp. n. is particularly characterised by the 0.66-1.12 mm long body; short midventral labial projection; straight vagina without sclerotisations; male without alveolar and with 12-15 tubular supplements, 15.0-21.5 mu m long spicules, and with gubernaculum. L. unicornis gen. n., sp. n. is particularly characterised by the 0.65-0.98 mm long body; long midventral labial projection; straight vagina without sclerotisations; male with up to 20 alveolar and without tubular supplements, 11.5-14.0 mu m long spicules, and without gubernaculum.