Author: K.A. TABASSUM AND F. SHAHINA

Publishing Date: 2008

E-ISSN: 0255-7576

Volume 26 Issue 2

ABSTRACT:

The hermaphroditic species Oscheius andrassyi n. sp., collected from soil around the roots of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) from Jhang (Punjab), Pakistan is described and illustrated with its embryonic and post-embryonic development. This new species belongs to the insectivora group having a leptoderan bursa and can be separated from previously described species by its more lateral lines (6 vs 4), except Oscheius maqbooli Tabassum & Shahina, 2002 and Oscheius shamimi Tahseen & Nisa, 2006.Oscheius andrassyi n. sp., comes close to O. maqbooli, but it differs from it in male by having higher a and b values (a = 20-25 vs 12.8-19; b =
6.2-7 vs 3.9-5.3), slightly shorter spicules and gubernaculum (45-51 vs 48-60 µm; 20-25 vs 25.6-29.6 µm). In female it differs in having larger body size (L =1322-1962 vs 942-1342 µm), higher b and c values (b = 6.7-9.4 vs 4.8-5.6; c = 11-17.9 vs 6.7-11), shorter c’ value (3-4 vs 4.6-5.9), more posteriorly located excretory pore (at posterior end of basal bulb vs at posterior end of isthmus). O.andrassyi n. sp., is a didelphic, hermaphroditic species, only four males were found. Embryonic development completed in 14-16 hours and post-embryonic development in
60-72 hours, its total duration of life cycle was 3-4 days at room temperature.