Criconematina (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

Nematology , 2008, Vol. 10(5), 781 Book review W I M M. W OUTS . Criconematina (Nematoda: Tylenchida) . Fauna of New Zealand No. 55. Manaaki Whenua Press, Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand, 2006, 232 pp. ISBN 0-478-09381-0. Price NZ$65.00. The purpose of this volume is to provide a comprehen- sive and accessible account of the Criconematina of New Zealand. The monograph forms part of the Fauna of New Zealand series, a series devoted to the non-marine inver- tebrates. The book is soft bound and printed on good qual- ity paper. Line drawings, light micrographs and scanning electron micrographs are detailed and are produced to a satisfyingly high standard. After a brief introductory section there follows a check- list of taxa, including 16 new species proposed within. Overall, some 68 species representing 13 genera are re- corded from New Zealand. The systematic scheme em- ployed is that of Siddiqi (2000). Macroposthonia , a genus now widely regarded as being of uncertain and dubious standing, is retained rather than employing Criconemoi- des (recently validated in Opinion 2046, ICZN, 2003) or Mesocriconema , depending on taste. Wouts deviates from Siddiqi (2000) in regarding Crossonema as a ju- nior synonym of Ogma and Amphisbaenema as a junior synonym of Blandicephalanema . The author proposes 16 new species, viz ., Criconema (Criconema) macken- ziei , C . (C .) makahuense , C . (C.) nelsonense , Criconema (Nothocriconema) grandisoni , Ogma alternum , O. ca- pitulatum , O. catherinae , O. inaequale , O. mucronatum , O. niagarae , O. sturhani , Syro glabellus , S. tribulosus , Blandicephalanema inserratum , B. nothofagi and Macro- posthonia campbelli . In a detailed exposition justifying the decision, Ogma terrestris Raski & Valenzuela, 1987 is proposed as a junior synonym of Criconema guernei (Certes, 1889). Each species is characterised in detail according to mor- phological and morphometric criteria and illustrated by line drawings and SEM studies. Information on males and juveniles is appended when known. Species are diagnosed and distribution and host associations are listed. The fig- ures and distribution maps are located in a section to the rear of the book rather than being interspersed with the species descriptions. Identification keys to the taxa are provided. This is a straightforward, authoritative and very useful account of the criconematids of New Zealand and is writ- ten in a highly accessible form by someone clearly famil- iar with the group. The author is to be congratulated on producing a learned yet functional account of this fasci- nating, if at times taxonomically opaque, group of nema- todes. The detail and quality of descriptions extends the usefulness of this book to a much wider audience. Rec- ommended. References ICZN (2003). Opinion 2046 (Case 3185). Criconema Hofmän- ner & Menzel, 1914 (Nematoda): Eubostrichus guernei Certes, 1899 designated as the type species. Bulletin of Zo- ological Nomenclature 60, Part 3. S IDDIQI , M.R. (2000). Tylenchida parasites of plants and insects , 2nd edition. Wallingford, UK, CABI Publishing, 833 pp. D AV ID J. H U N T CABI Europe-UK Bakeham Lane Egham Surrey, TW20 9TY UK e-mail: [email protected] © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2008 781 Also available online - www.brill.nl/nemy