MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF DICHELYNE (NEOCULLANELLUS) DAKARENSIS N. SP. (NEMATODA: CUCULLANIDAE) PARASITIZING AN ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT MARINE FISH, THE SOMPAT GRUNT, POMADASYS JUBELINI (PERCIFORMES: HAEMULIDAE), FROM HANN BAY IN DAKAR, SENEGAL.

Nematodes collected from the intestine of sompat grunt Pomadasys jubelini Cuvier, 1830 from Hann Bay in Dakar, Senegal represent a new species described herein as Dichelyne (Neocucullanellus) dakarensis n. sp., and investigated with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from its congeners based on several characteristics, especially because the subgenus Neocucullanellus is the only 1 that has 2 ceca. In addition, the new species diagnosis is based on the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae as well as the size of the veil of spicules. Morphological data were supported by molecular analysis. Results obtained using SSU rDNA and COI distinguished the present specimens from other cucullanids. Molecular data indicated the close relatedness between the new species and Dichelyne cotylophora Ward and Magath, 1917.