Ultrastructural redescription of Chordodes moraisi (Carvalho, 1942) and Chordodes straviarskii Carvalho and Feio, 1950, and re‐interpretation of Chordodes gestri Camerano, 1904 and Pseudochordodes griffinii (Camerano, 1898) (Gordiida, Nematomorpha)

Abstract

The Gordiida species Chordodes moraisi (Carvalho, 1942) and C. staviarskii Carvalho and Feio, 1950 are re-described using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chordodes moraisi is characterized by four areole types, two of which correspond to tubercle areoles, the crown areoles appear as single structures and occur on both sides along the ventral midline. Chordodes staviarskii is characterized by a polymorphism of crowned areoles which appear as two types with distinct distribution patterns. Two species, Chordodes gestri Camerano, 1904 and Pseudochordodes griffinii (Camerano, 1898) are synonymized with Neochordodes occidentalis (Montgomery, 1898) and Chordodes peraccae (Camerano, 1894).