Description of Belondira limpopoensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Belondiridae), from South Africa

Abstract Belondira limpopoesnsis sp. n. is described from Haenertsburg village, Limpopo Province, South Africa, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species is characterized by having 810–850 µm long female body; lip region continuous with the body, 4–6 µm wide, lips barely separate, labial papillae indistinct; odontostyle short with distinct lumen, 2.9–4.1 µm long; neck 192–210 μm long; pharyngeal expansion 99–112 μm long, occupying 49–53% of total neck length, enclosed in a distinct spiral sheath; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic, anterior uterine sac 14–23 μm long; tail short (14–19 µm, c = 44.1–73.6, c’ = 0.8–1.2), slightly clavate, marked with radial striations. The 18S rDNA gene sequence of the new species placed it in the same clade with other Belondira populations with 1.00 posterior probability values. Measurement, LM, SEM and phylogenetic position of the new species based on 18S rDNA are given.