Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aquatic nematodes from Ethiopia I

The genus Monhystera Bastian, 1865 (Monhysteridae: Nematoda) with the description of four new species

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Freshwater bottom samples collected from Ethiopia during December 1993 and January 1994 yielded six species of the genus Monhystera Bastian, 1865 of which four are new to science.

Each of the four new species can be recognized by a combination of characters; Monhystera shibrui n. sp. can be identified by the presence of a dorsal denticle, post-vulval gland cells, short vagina, and its viviparity, M. tanae n. sp. by the offset lip region, short cephalic setae, short vagina, possession of a pair of posterio-dorsolateral vaginal gland cells, more posteriorly situated vulva, lack of post-vulval gland cell, shorter vulva-anus distance compared to tail, its viviparity, short spicules, and short gubernaculum, M. nubiae n. sp. by its long vagina, presence of a pair of post-vulval gland cells and a very sharp, arrow-head shaped spinneret tip, and M. deleyi n. sp. can be recognized by the attenuated anterior end with narrow lip region, relatively wide amphids compared to corresponding body width, long vagina, presence of post-vulval gland cell, and cardia with three gland cells. Detailed descriptions of M. cf. gabaza Joubert & Heyns, 1980 and M. somereni Allgén, 1952 are also given. While both species are reported here for the first time from Ethiopia, the former is reported for the first time out of South Africa and the need for more information on its type population is stressed. Lateral line is reported here from two species, M. deleyi n. sp. and M. cf. gabaza Joubert & Heyns, 1980, for the first time in the genus. Scanning electromicrographs of four species, M. Shibrui n. sp., M. nubiae n. sp., M. deleyi n. sp. and M. cf. gabaza, are also given.

Structures used in species identification in the genus Monhystera are reviewed. It is recommended, in future species descriptions in the genus, to use labial setae in addition to the use of cephalic setae, actual vaginal length in addition to its ratio to the corresponding body width both in females without and females with eggs but separately, a full and detailed description of the cells of the reproductive system and coelomocyte distribution, and to include an enlarged illustration of the spinneret outlet.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allgén, C., 1952. Über einige freilebende Süsswasser-Nematoden von Mt. Kenya (Brit. Ostafrika). Ein Kleiner Beitrag zur Kenntnis tropischer Nematoden. Ark Zool. 3: 139–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrássy, I., 1956. Süsswasser-Nematoden aus Französisch West-Africa. Opusc. Zool. Budapest 1: 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrássy, I., 1968. Fauna Paraguayensis: 2. Nematoden aus den Galeriewäldern des Acaray-Flusses. Opusc. Zool. Budapest 8: 167–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrássy, I., 1981. Revision of the order Monhysterida (Nematoda) inhabiting soil and inland waters. Opusc. Zool. Budapest 17–18: 13–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argo, A. & J. Heyns, 1973. New and little known species of the nematode families Monhysteridae and Tripylidae from South Africa. Phytophylactica 2: 149–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, B. H., P A. Mohr & L. A. J. Williams, 1972. Geology of the eastern rift system of Africa. Geol. Soc. Am., Special Paper 136: 67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, A., U. Forstner & R. Rhode, 1975. Lake Shala: water chemistry, mineralogy, and geochemistry of sediments in an Ethiopian Rift Lake. Geol. Rdsch. 64: 593–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, R. M., W. V. Prosser, J. F. Talling & R. B. Wood, 1965. Stratification in tropical African lakes at moderate altitudes (1500 to 2000 m). Limnol. Oceanogr. 10: 510–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bini, G., 1940. I pesci del Lago Tana (The fishes of Lake Tana). Missione di Studio al Lago Tana. Ric. Limnol. Chem. Biol., Reale Accademia d'Italia 18: 137–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunelli, G. & G. Cannicci, 1940. Le caratteristiche biologiche del lago Tana. Missione di Studio al lago Tana. Ric. Limnol. Chem. Biol., Reale Accademia d'Italia 3: 71–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, N. A., 1918. Estimating the nema population of soil, with special reference to the sugar beet and root gall nemas, Hererodera schachdi Schmidt and H. radicicola (Greet) Müller, and with a description of Tylencholaimus aequalis n. sp., Agr. Techn. Circular #1, Bur. of Plant Indust., U.S. Dept. Agri., 48 pp.

  • Daniel, G., 1977. Aspects of climate and water budget in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa University Press. Addis Ababa, 71 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Grisse, A. T., 1969. Redescription ou modifications de quelques techniques utilisées dans l'étude des nametodes phytoparasitaires. Meded. Rijksfak. Landbouw Wet. Gent 34: 315–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elizabeth, K., G. M. Zinabu & I. Ahlgren, 1994. The Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes: chemical characteristics of a salinity-alkalinity series. Hydrobiologia 288: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyualem, A. & A. Coomans, 1995. Freshwater nematodes of the Galápagos. Hydrobiologia 299: 1–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filipjev, I., 1931. Report on Freshwater Nematoda: Mr. OmerCooper's Investigation of the Abyssinian Freshwaters (Hugh Scott Expedition). Proc. zool. Soc Load. 2: 429–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., 1975. L'evolution des lace de l'Afar Central (Ethiopie et T.F.A.I.) du Plio-Pleistocene a l'Actuel. Thesis, University of Paris VI, Paris, 387 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F. & F. A. Street, 1978. Late quaternary lake-level fluctuations and environments of the Northern Rift Valley and Afar Depression (Ethiopia and Djibouti). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 24: 279–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., J. F. Talling & P. Kilham, 1983. Diatom assemblages in East Africa: classification distribution and ecology. Revue Hydrobiol. trop. 16: 3–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Girma, T., 1988. A seasonal study on the phytoplankton primary production in relation to light and nutrients in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 61 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J. & M. Seyoum, 1991. Specific diversity and community structure of Rotifera in a salinity series of Ethiopian inland waters. Hydrobiologia 209: 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, A. T., F. A. Street & A. S. Goudie, 1975. Former lake levels and climatic changes in the rift valley of Southern Ethiopia. Geogrl. J. 141: 177–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, A. M., 1984. The Nile: Description, hydrology, control and utilisation. Hydrobiologia 110: 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. J., 1987a. A checklist of the Monhysteridae (nematoda: Monhysterida). Publication C46, Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, 186 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. J., 1987b. Monographic study of the Monhysteridae de Man, 1876 (Nemaooda). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ghent, Ghent, 766 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. J. & J. Heyns, 1992. Morphology of Monhystera coomansi sp. n. from Algeria (Nemaooda: Monhysteridae). Nematologica 38: 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. J., J. Heyns & A. Coomans, 1994. Redescription of three South African Monhystera species (Nematoda). S. Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 29: 62–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jairajpuri, M. S. & W. Ahmed, 1992. Dorylaimida: Free-living, Predacious and Plantparasitic Nematodes, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 458 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, W. R., 1964. A rapid centrifugal-flotation technique for separating nematodes from soil. Pl. Dis. Reptr. 48: 692.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joubert, A. P., & J. Heyns, 1980. Freshwater nematodes from South Africa. The genus Monhystera Bastian, 1865. S. Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 15: 190–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juget, J., 1969. Description de quelque formes rares ou nouvelles de Nématodes libres du bassin du Léman. Bull Soc. vaud. Sci. nat. 70: 141–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassahun, W., 1982. Comparative limnology of Lake Abijata and Lake Langano in relation to primary and secondary production. M.Sc. thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 112 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassahun, W. & B. Amha, 1984. Species composition and seasonal abundance of zooplankton in two Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes — Lakes Abiata and Langano. Hydrobiologia 113: 129–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khera, S., 1971. Nematodes from the banks of still and running waters. VIII. Family Monhysteridae. Nematologica 16: 492–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzen, S., 1981. Entwurf eines phylogenetischen systems der freilebenden Nematoden. Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Meerestforschung in Bremerhaven suppl. 7, 472 pp.

  • Makin M. J., J. J. Kingham, A. E. Wadden, C. J. Birchall & T. Tamene, 1975. Development Projects in The Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Land Resource study 21. Land Resources Division, Ministry of Overseas Development, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyl, H., 1955. Frielebende Nematoden aus binnenländischen Saltzbiotopen zwischen Braunschweig und Magdeburg. Arch. Hydrobiol. 50: 568–614.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, P. A., 1966. The Geology of Ethiopia. University of College Press, Asmara, 268 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagelkerke, L. A. J., F. S. Sibbing, J. G. M. van den Boogaart & E. H. R. R. Lammens, 1994. The barbs (Barbus spp.) of Lake Tana: a forgotten species flock? Envir. Biol. Fish. 39: 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seinhorst, J. W., 1959. A rapid method for the transfer of nematodes from fixative to anhydrous glycerine. Nematologica 4: 67–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semeneh, B., 1988. Zooplankton composition and seasonal dynamics in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 121 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibbing, F. A., L. A. Nagelkerke & J. W. M. Osse, 1994. Ecomorphology as a tool in fisheries: identification and ecotyping of Lake Tana barbs (Barbus intermedius complex), Ethiopia. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 42: 77–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tailing, J. F. & J. Rzóska, 1967. The development of plankton in relation to hydrological regime in the Blue Nile. J. Ecol. 53: 637–662.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F. & I. Talling, 1965. The chemical composition of African lake waters. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 50: 421–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsalolikhin, S. J., 1993. New and little-known free-living nematodes from Ethiopia. Zoosyst. Rossica 2: 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsegaye, M., 1988. A seasonal study on the species composition and phytoplankton biomass in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 72 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tudorancea, C. & A. Zullini, 1989. Associations and distribution of benthic nematodes in the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes. Hydrobiologia 179: 81–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Velde, M. C. & A. Coomans, 1988. Ultrastructure of the photoreceptor of Diplolaimella sp. (Nematode). Tissue & Cell 20: 421–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Damm, K. L. & J. M. Edmond, 1984. Reverse weathering in the closed-basin lakes of the Ethiopian Rift. Am. J. Sci. 284: 835–862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. B., M. V. Prosser & R. M. Baxter, 1978. Optical characteristics of the Rift Valley Lakes, Ethiopia. Sinet: Eth. J. Sci. 1: 73–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. B. & J. F. Talling, 1988. Chemical and algal relationships in a salinity series of Ethiopian inland waters. Hydrobiologia 158: 29–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, H. W. & R. J. C. Hoeppli, 1929. Free-living nematodes from Fookien and Chekiang. Arch. Schiffs Tropenhyg. 1: 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan, A. B., L. J. Jacobs & E. Geraert, 1990. Monhysteridae from western Sudan with descriptions of two new species (Nematoda: Monhysterida). Nernatologica 35: 379–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zullini, A., 1988. A new genus and five species of nematodes from Ethiopian lakes. Revue Nématol. 11: 279–288.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituut voor Dierkunde, Universiteit Gent, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Eyualem Abebe & A. Coomans

  2. Bahir Dar Teachers' College, Personal P.O. Box 223, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Eyualem Abebe

Authors
  1. Eyualem Abebe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Coomans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abebe, E., Coomans, A. Aquatic nematodes from Ethiopia I. Hydrobiologia 324, 1–51 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017635

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017635

Key words

Search

Navigation