NEW DEEP-SEA NEMATODA (ENOPLIDA, THORACOSTOMOPSIDAE, ONCHOLAIMIDAE, ENCHELIDIIDAE) FROM A MANGANESE-NODULE AREA OF THE EASTERN SOUTH-PACIFIC

Five new nematode species are described from a manganese nodule area o f the abyssal eastern South Pacific: Enoploides tyrannis sp. n., Param esacanthion abyssorum sp. n., P. forceps sp, n. (all three Thoracostom opsidae), Phylloncholaimus immanis gen. et sp. n. (Oncholaimidae), and Eurystomina absoluta sp. n. (Enchelidiidae). They are characterized b y large size (body length 5000-23000 mu m), short tails (c = 17-33), a nd strongly cuticularized, barrel-shaped buccal cavities with large te eth. With the exception of one male of E. tyrannis from the surface of a manganese nodule, all other specimens were found in the sediment. T he new species are sporadic in distribution and represented by few ind ividuals.