Molecular characterisation of Iotonchulus longicaudatus (Nematoda: Mononchida) from Mizoram, India

A nematode diversity survey in Mizoram, India led to the recovery of a known species of the order Mononchida (Animalia: Nematoda). Upon investigation, the species was identified as Iotonchulus longicaudatus (Mononchida: Iotonchidae) based on morphology and morphometrics. Iotonchulus longicaudatus can be characterized by its robust body, tubular buccal cavity with dorsal tooth positioned at midway of buccal length, non-denticulate subventral buccal wall, tuberculated pharyngo-intestinal junction, mono-prodelphic female genital system, filiform tail with well-developed caudal glands and spinneret. Molecular data including the 18S and D2-D3 expansion segment of 28S rDNA sequences were generated for the first time for this species and were further utilized to determine its phylogenetic relationship with other mononchs.