Species Diversity and Taxonomy of Marine Nematodes

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 May 2026 | Viewed by 80

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East Sea Research Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Uljin 36315, Republic of Korea
Interests: biodiversity; taxonomy; DNA barcoding; molecular systematics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine nematodes represent one of the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of benthic organisms, yet their global biodiversity and taxonomy remain incompletely understood. This Special Issue, “Species Diversity and Taxonomy of Marine Nematodes,” aims to advance current knowledge by integrating classical morphological taxonomy with modern molecular approaches, including DNA barcoding and phylogenetic systematics. We invite contributions that explore species discovery, evolutionary relationships, ecological distribution patterns, and methodological innovations for nematode identification. Through collaborative efforts among taxonomists, molecular biologists, and ecologists, this Special Issue seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding marine nematode diversity and to highlight their essential roles in marine ecosystem functioning and biodiversity assessment.

Prof. Dr. Hyun Soo Rho
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • taxonomy
  • DNA barcoding
  • molecular systematics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 4351 KB  
Article
New Taxonomic Insights into Paradraconema (Nematoda: Draconematidae) from Korea: Valid Establishment of P. tamraense sp. nov. from Jeju Island and Description of P. gangchii sp. nov. from Dokdo Island
by Seungyeop Han and Hyun Soo Rho
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14010007 - 19 Dec 2025
Abstract
We describe two new species of Paradraconema from subtidal sediments of Korean waters: P. tamraense sp. nov. from Jeju Island and P. gangchii sp. nov. from Dokdo Island. Although the epithet tamraense had appeared previously in the literature, it was treated as a [...] Read more.
We describe two new species of Paradraconema from subtidal sediments of Korean waters: P. tamraense sp. nov. from Jeju Island and P. gangchii sp. nov. from Dokdo Island. Although the epithet tamraense had appeared previously in the literature, it was treated as a nomen nudum and therefore lacked nomenclatural availability under the ICZN. In this study, the species is newly and validly established based on a critical reassessment of the original material, supported by new line drawings and detailed observations using differential interference contrast (DIC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Paradraconema amraense sp. nov. is characterized by a slender body; pharyngeal annules bearing weakly developed longitudinal bars with smooth margins; a narrow lateral field at midbody; abundant and relatively long somatic setae; a head capsule partially covered with vacuolated ornamentation; an amphidial fovea that is elongate loop-shaped in males and circular, unispiral in females; eleven cephalic adhesion tubes (CAT); and comparatively long sublateral adhesion tubes (SlAT) and subventral adhesion tubes (SvAT). Paradraconema gangchii sp. nov. is characterized by a slender body; cuticle ornamentation with numerous longitudinal bars bearing finely crenulated margins in the pharyngeal region; sparse and short somatic setae; a head capsule fully covered with vacuolar ornamentation (reticulate under SEM); an amphidial fovea that is elongate loop-shaped in males and circular, unispiral, slightly over one coil in females; relatively short spicules (36–46 µm); eleven CAT; and relatively short SlAT and SvAT. SEM revealed several fine morphological features not previously documented in the genus, including the precise number and arrangement of CAT and detailed structures of the cuticle ornamentation and lip region. This study provides comprehensive SEM-based documentation for Paradraconema, increases the number of valid species in the genus to thirteen, and enhances our understanding of draconematid diversity in the northwestern Pacific. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Species Diversity and Taxonomy of Marine Nematodes)
24 pages, 33025 KB  
Article
Two New Species of Tricoma (Tricoma) (Nematoda: Desmoscolecidae) from Korean Subtidal Sediments, with Notes on Labial Ultrastructure
by Hyo Jin Lee, Heegab Lee, Seungyeop Han and Hyun Soo Rho
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2405; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122405 - 18 Dec 2025
Abstract
This paper reports two newly discovered species of Tricoma (Tricoma)—T. (T.) discrepans sp. nov. and T. (T.) parasetosa sp. nov.—obtained from the subtidal sediments at a depth of 13 m around Jindo Island, Korea. Tricoma [...] Read more.
This paper reports two newly discovered species of Tricoma (Tricoma)—T. (T.) discrepans sp. nov. and T. (T.) parasetosa sp. nov.—obtained from the subtidal sediments at a depth of 13 m around Jindo Island, Korea. Tricoma (T.) discrepans sp. nov. differs from its congeners in possessing 40–41 main rings, an uncovered first main ring, large vesicular amphidial fovea, and a distinctly thickened tail cuticle that is densely covered with secretions and adhering particles. Somatic setae in males exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, with the subventral setae more than twice as thick as the subdorsal setae, a morphological feature documented here for the first time within the subgenus Tricoma (Tricoma). Tricoma (T.) parasetosa sp. nov. can be recognized by 31 (rarely 32) main rings, two pairs of long, thick posterior somatic setae inserted on massive peduncles, a vesicular amphidial fovea extending to the second main ring, and a gubernaculum proximal end gently curved ventrally. Although the labial region is indistinct, the species bears two conspicuous lateral labial projections and a prominent cephalic concretion. Together, these results broaden the current understanding of Tricoma diversity in the northwestern Pacific and emphasize additional morphological variation within Desmoscolecida based on detailed Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Species Diversity and Taxonomy of Marine Nematodes)
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