SPECIES OF THE XIPHINEMA AMERICANUM - GROUP (NEMATODA, DORYLAIMIDA) OCCURRING IN THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

The taxonomic study of 20 populations of the Xiphinema americanum - group, collected from the Western Cape Province in South Africa, revealed the occurrence of three species: X. incognitum, Lamberti et Bleve - Zacheo, the most common, X. americanum sensu stricto Cobb, also widespread and X. pachtaicum (Tulaganov) Kirjanova, more restricted in its distribution. Identifications were confirmed by principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis of 17 morphometric characters, that indicated a clear separation of the three species among themselves and from X. diffusum Lamberti et Bleve-Zacheo and X. taylori Lamberti et al. to which some populations of X. incognitum were biometrically close.