Redescription of Bolbella californica Allgen, 1951 (Enchelidiidae: Nematoda), with Notes on its Ecology off Southern California

Abstract

Bolbella californica Allgen, 1951 (Enchelidiidae: Nematoda), the southern California species of the genus, is redescribed. A limited analysis based on 79 specimens is made of its intraspecific variation. As redescribed, B. californica may be distinguished from all other species of this genus by the number of esophageal bulbi, 9 to 10; no previously described species has more than 8 bulbi. B. californica was collected from 18 locations on the southern California mainland shelf, in the depth range of 5.5 to 9.1 m. Bottom sediments at these locations were variable.