taxonID	type	description	language	source
0393D425FF80FF91FF06871A2C4855C0.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. One male and one female from Peel Rise stream in Aberdeen Country Park, Hong Kong (Zone 50 Q, 2464218 N / 206695 E), elevation 172 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on July 27, 2011. Deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession numbers V 13391 (male) and V 13392 (female).	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF80FF91FF06871A2C4855C0.taxon	description	Description. The male is 285 mm long and has a diameter of 1.4 mm. The female is 405 mm long and has a diameter of 2.3 mm. The body color of both specimens is dark brown, and a pattern of darker patches (“ leopard pattern ”) is present. Simple areoles are irregular in shape and elevation (Fig. 1 A). Their surface is generally smooth. Most areoles are round, but some display other forms, mostly a U-shaped form created by a kind of slit from the margin to about the center of the areoles (Fig. 1 A, B). Tubercle areoles are present (Fig. 1 A), and thorn areoles are rare, but present (Fig. 1 B). At least in the male the thorns are apically curved. Bulging areoles are absent or are not recognized due to the irregular height of the simple areoles. Clusters of crowned areoles are present; these are composed of a central pair of crowned areoles and about 12 surrounding circumcluster areoles (Fig. 1 C). Circumcluster areoles are more elevated than simple areoles and their apical surface is granulated (Fig. 1 C). Crowned areoles contain a tuft of apical bristles of moderate length (about 20 µm) (Fig. 1 C). Both sexes have crowned areoles with very long (> 100 µm in the male,> 200 µm in the female) apical filaments (Fig. 1 D, E) along the ventral midline. The posterior end of the male corresponds to the general pattern in this genus, the ventral oval cloacal opening is surrounded by short circumcloacal spines and the ventral region around the cloacal opening contains many very short spines (Fig. 1 F). The female posterior end is slightly inflated with a terminal cloacal opening, which also corresponds to the general pattern in the genus (Fig. 1 G).	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF80FF91FF06871A2C4855C0.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The U-shaped form of simple areoles is a character that is thus far unreported in Asian nematomorphs. It is known from two South American species, Chordodes bouvieri (Villot, 1885) Römer, 1896 and C. peraccae (Camerano, 1894) Camerano, 1897. In C. bouvieri this areolar shape is not evident in all descriptions (or in all specimens assigned to this species), but is figured in the SEM investigation by De Villalobos et al. (2009). In C. peraccae, this is documented by both Camerano (1897) and De Villalobos & Zanca (2001). Thorn areoles were not described from C. bouvieri and C. peraccae and in C. bouvieri also the crowned areoles with long apical filaments are not described. However, absence of structures in Chordodes specimens might be due to insufficient investigation, because structures may be scarce or because the pieces of cuticle examined were too small. Therefore we hesitate to describe the two specimens reported here as new species, although it appears quite unlikely that a single species is distributed in South America and Southeast Asia.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF93FF0684E92D53575C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. One male from Tai Po Kau stream in Tai Po Kau Country Park, Hong Kong (UTM Zone 50 Q, 2482673 N / 209867 E), elevation 163 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on August 1, 2008. Deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession numbers V 13393.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF93FF0684E92D53575C.taxon	description	Description. The specimen is 240 mm long and has a diameter of 1.1 mm. The body color is medium brown, and a pattern of darker patches (“ leopard pattern ”) is present. Simple areoles are irregular in shape and have an uneven surface, but without bristles (Fig. 2 A). Some areoles are slightly larger and more elevated than others and have a stronger structured surface (Fig. 2 A). These areoles might represent bulging areoles. Tubercle areoles and thorn areoles are present (Fig. 2 A). Crowned areoles occur in clusters surrounded by 10 – 12 circumcluster areoles (Fig. 2 A, B). Crowned areoles are densely covered by apical filaments of different lengths and thicknesses (Fig. 2 A, B). The filament diameter ranges from 0.75 to 1.25 µm. Some of the bristles are branching, either into two equal branches or give off smaller branches (Fig. 2 A, B). Most filaments are not longer than 20 µm, but few longer ones are present.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF93FF0684E92D53575C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The cuticular pattern of this specimen fits well to the description of Chordodes bipilus Kirjanova, 1957, a species from Iran. This species is documented by drawings and the most conspicuous character, the presence of two types of filaments on the crowned areoles, is not documented. Kirjanova (1957) describes simple areoles with an irregular surface, the presence of tubercle and thorn areoles, crowned areole clusters composed of a pair of crowned areoles and 9 – 12 circumcluster areoles. The crowned areoles have apical filaments of two sizes, longer and thicker ones (diameter 2 µm) as well as shorter and thinner ones (diameter 1 µm). All these characters correspond to our specimen. The apical filaments of the Hong Kong specimen do not strictly belong to two size classes, but there are transitions in size. Some of the smaller filaments are the result of branches from larger ones. Such patterns have not been previously described from C. bipilus, but this may be due to researchers not having used SEM. In addition, bulging areoles are described by Kirjanova (1957), which may be present, but are not as clear in the Hong Kong specimen as in the original description. Kirjanova (1957) also described crowned areoles with very long apical filaments from the ventral side. It cannot be excluded that the very few long filaments in the Hong Kong specimen belong to crowned areoles with long filaments, in which most filaments were broken off, but a restriction of such areoles to the ventral side could not be observed. Therefore it is more likely that these filaments represent single cases of extraordinarily long filaments. This pattern fits well to a general pattern in Chordodes. Crowned areoles with long filaments are abundantly described from females, but are usually, though not always, absent in males. The Iran specimen is a female (Kirjanova 1957), and the Hong Kong specimen is a male.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF94FF0681FC2CF6534C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. One female from Peel Rise stream in Aberdeen Country Park, Hong Kong (UTM Zone 50 Q, 2464218 N / 206695 E), elevation 172 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on July 2, 2012. Deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession numbers V 13394.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF94FF0681FC2CF6534C.taxon	description	Description. The specimen is 290 mm long and has a diameter of 1.7 mm. The body color is medium brown and has a strong pattern of darker patches (“ leopard pattern ”). Simple areoles are rounded and have tiny “ knobs ” on the surface (Fig. 2 D). Others, slightly larger and more elevated, have a smooth surface; these may represent bulging areoles (Fig. 2 C). Tubercle areoles are present, and thorn areoles are very rare, but present. Crowned areole clusters are composed of a pair of crowned areoles with short apical filaments (<15 µm), surrounded by 8 – 12 broad and round circumcluster areoles with a smooth surface (Fig. 2 C, D). On both sides along the ventral midline are crowned areoles with long (> 100 µm) apical filaments (Fig. 2 E).	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF82FF94FF0681FC2CF6534C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The described structure of the cuticle corresponds best to the description of Chordodes caledoniensis. This species was described by Villot (1874) from New Caledonia and reinvestigated by Dorier (1946). Both Villot and Dorier included only drawings of the cuticle. Especially the larger, round areoles among the simple areoles and the broad, round shape of the circumcluster areoles correspond well between the drawings and the Hong Kong specimen. Additionally, crowned areoles have very short bristles in both specimens. Thorn areoles are not described from the New Caledonia specimen, but as they are very rare in the Hong Kong specimen, they may have been overlooked. The fine “ knobs ” on the surface of the simple areoles is not described from the New Caledonia specimen, but this may be due to not using SEM. Therefore, with minor differences that could be due to observation techniques, the Hong Kong specimen fits to the description of C. caledoniensis.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF84FF97FF0684E92B0353FB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Seven males from Peel Rise stream in Aberdeen Country Park, Hong Kong (UTM Zone 50 Q, 2464218 N / 206695 E), elevation 172 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on July 26, 2008 (V 13395), November 27, 2009 (V 13396, 13397) and July 2, 2012 (V 13398 - V 13401). Deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession numbers V 13395 - V 13401.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF84FF97FF0684E92B0353FB.taxon	description	Description. The specimens measure 265, 190, 150, 185, 175, 155 and 180 mm in length and have a diameter of 1.0, 1.0, 1.3, 1.3, 1.1, 1.1 and 0.9 mm, respectively (V 13395 - V 13401). The body color is medium to dark brown and, with exception of V 13395, a pattern of darker patches (“ leopard pattern ”) is present. All specimens correspond in the following characters. Simple areoles are flat with irregular surface. Larger and more elevated areoles with fine bristles on top (Fig. 3 A – C) represent bulging areoles. Tubercle and thorn areoles are both present (Fig. 3 A – C, G). Clusters of crowned areoles are composed of a pair of crowned areoles with moderately long apical filaments and 10 – 12 circumcluster areoles that resemble bulging areoles in structure (Fig. 3 A – C, E, F). The apical bristles in some specimens (V 13395, V 13399) originate laterally on the more or less flat apical surface of the areole (Fig. 3 F), in other specimens they form an irregular tuft (Fig. 3 E). It cannot be excluded that in the tuft the filaments also originate in a lateral way, but then curve into all directions and cover the apical surface of the areoles. Crowned areoles with long filaments are present flanking the ventral midline in specimens V 13395 to 13398 (Fig. 3 D), but were not observed in the other three specimens. All specimens are males. The ventral cloacal opening is about 260 µm from the posterior tip, and is surrounded by circumcloacal spines (Fig. 3 H, K, L). In the region around the cloacal opening are numerous spines in distinctive distribution patterns. Spines of different lengths (maximally 12 µm) are present mainly posterior of the cloacal opening (Fig. 3 I, K, L). They have a more or less blunt tip (Fig. 3 I). Anterolateral of the opening are two fields of approximately 100 µm in length and 65 µm in width that contain pointed spines (length about 12 µm) (Fig. 3 K, L). Similar spines are present and scattered between the areoles that are present on the lateral and dorsal side of the posterior end; spines are concentrated at the posterior tip.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF84FF97FF0684E92B0353FB.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The cuticular pattern corresponds well with the description for Chordodes moutoni Camerano, 1895 or, to be more precise, it falls into the range of characters described for this species. Chordodes moutoni was originally described from China, from a locality called “ Ho Chan in the province Ngan Haei ” (Camerano 1895, reinvestigation by Zanca & De Villalobos 2005), located as Henan Province by Zanca & De Villalobos (2005). Other specimens from China (Wu & Tang 1933), Malaysia (Camerano 1899, 1901, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Brune 2008) and India (Schmidt-Rhaesa & Yadav 2013, Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2015) were assigned to this species. Specimens assigned as C. cf. moutoni were described from the Philippines (Schmidt-Rhaesa & Schwarz, 2016). Most characters of C. moutoni are broadly present among Chordodes species. Tubercle and thorn areoles, crowned areoles and circumcluster areoles in the described form are observed in several species (Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2008). One particularly notable character for C. moutoni is probably the presence of variable shapes and forms in the simple areoles. Generally, these can be divided into two types, a lower one (simple areoles) and a more elevated one with bristles on top (bulging areoles). There may be transitions between these two types. The reinvestigation of the type material (Zanca & De Villalobos 2005) shows quite flat areoles, while the Hong Kong specimens resemble more the drawing of the type material (Camerano 1897). The specimens assigned to C. moutoni from Malaysia (Cameron Highlands, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Brune 2008) do show uniform simple areoles and no bulging areoles, therefore the placement in this species might be not correct. Chordodes moutoni seems to be a species without very prominent and unique characters, which makes it possible that it serves as a collection of several species with equally less prominent characters. Barcoding would help greatly in getting a better picture of species boundaries in this species. One peculiar character is the presence of crowned areoles with very long apical filaments on the ventral side of some of the males investigated here. Such areoles are present in females of many species, but only in males of very few species (Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2008). In C. moutoni these areoles have been reported so far only from females (Camerano 1895, Zanca & De Villalobos 2005, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Yadav 2013, Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2015) and their occurrence in some of the males may be an indication that the Hong Kong specimens belong to a different species. However, as the standard technique some time ago used to be to cut a random piece of cuticle, certain types of areoles with particular distribution patterns may have been overlooked. The description of posterior ends in males (and also in females) in the genus Chordodes often does not receive as much attention as the description of the cuticular structure. This may be because the general patterns of the distribution of spines look quite similar. In most species, there is a circle of spines around the cloacal opening (circumcloacal spines). Short spines are present in the ventral region around the cloacal opening and spines are present in paired fields or rows anterolateral of the cloacal opening. Concerning C. moutoni, there is one difference as Zanca & De Villalobos (2005) describe anterolateral rows of bristles (measurements approximately 185 x 26 µm), while in the Hong Kong specimens oval fields were found.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF86FF98FF0685A22DE5512E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. One male and one female, the female is from Tai Mo Shan stream in Tai Mo Shan Country Park, Hong Kong (UTM Zone 50 Q 2482514 N / 203818 E), elevation 565 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on June 4, 2009. The male is from Lau Shui Heung stream, Hong Kong (2492632 N / 207331 E), elevation 80 m. Collected by N. E. Karraker on May 18, 2010. Deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession numbers V 13402 (female) and V 13403 (male).	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF86FF98FF0685A22DE5512E.taxon	description	Description. The specimens measure 220 (female) and 200 (male) mm and have a diameter of 0.7 and 0.6 mm, respectively. The length measurement of the male is a minimal count, because the anterior end is missing. The body color is light brown. The cuticle contains one type of areole. These are roughly polygonal and differ in size (Fig. 4 A, B). Between the areoles are small knob-like structures (Fig. 4 A, B). These are usually in the center of the edges of two neighboring areoles. The edge may be slightly indented at the position of the knobs. The knobs are not always strictly in the center of an edge, but may be shifted towards the sides. The female posterior end is slightly swollen, and the cloacal opening is terminal (Fig. 4 D). The male posterior end (Fig. 4 C, E) is not in good condition. It has very smooth areas, which are likely artificial. Spines that must be present in this region could not be observed. Few spines from the anterolateral bristlefields (a common character in the genus) were observed, but these were also not well preserved. What is present are the circumcloacal spines (Fig. 4 E). The oval cloacal opening is surrounded by a number of blunt spines. Some of these spines are artificially covered by some material. As far as could be observed all spines are unbranched.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF86FF98FF0685A22DE5512E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The cuticular pattern of the specimens fits exactly to the description of Gordionus chinensis. The first, male specimen of this species was collected by Father Armand David during his stay in Beijing (Peking), China and brought to the Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle in Paris, where it was investigated and described by Villot (1874). Dorier (1946) later restudied this specimen. Camerano (1895, 1896) assigned a few specimens from Borneo (Indonesia), Western China (as Kaschgaria), Kyrgyzstan and Turkestan to this species but later (Camerano 1897) retreated from this determination. Gordionus chinensis is also reported from Japan (Schmidt- Rhaesa & Sato 2009, Schmidt-Rhaesa et al. 2009). Dorier (1946) and Schmidt-Rhaesa & Sato (2009) reported the circumcloacal spines to be partly branched, whereas in the Hong Kong specimen all spines appeared unbranched.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF89FF99FF0687D12C0C536E.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. One male from type locality, deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession number V 13404. Etymology. The species name “ koljai ” is chosen after the youngest son of the senior author, Kolja Tore. Type locality. Malaysia, Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu, Liwagu stream (UTM Zone 50 Q, 664160 N / 44913 E), elevation 1515 m; collected by N. E. Karraker on June 20, 2010 (paratype) and July 13, 2010 (holotype). Paratype. One male from type locality, deposited in the Zoological Museum Hamburg, accession number V 13405.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF89FF99FF0687D12C0C536E.taxon	description	Description. The holotype is 170 mm long and measures 1.0 mm in width. The paratype is 150 mm long and 0.9 mm in width. Both specimens are light brown, with a dark collar present. The body cuticle is smooth. At the posterior end, the tail lobes strongly taper (Fig. 5 A – C). The postcloacal crescent is semicircular (holotype, Fig. 5 D) to slightly parabolic (paratype, Fig. 5 E). The measurements differ in both specimens. The holotype has a thicker (60 µm posterior of the cloacal opening) and narrower (200 µm distance between both tips) crescent than the paratype (40 µm thick and 240 µm broad). The postcloacal crescent is almost immediately posterior of the cloacal opening (Fig. 5 D, E). Characteristic for the species is a curved line that extends from the posterior tips of the crescent in posterior direction and towards the inner face of the tail lobes (Fig. 5 D, E). It borders a clearly separated region posterior of the postcloacal crescent. The cuticle is structured in this region into roundish to polygonal areas resembling areoles (Fig. 5 D, E). Scattered spines are found on the lateral sides of the tail lobes.	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
0393D425FF89FF99FF0687D12C0C536E.taxon	discussion	Remarks: The genus Acutogordius includes so far 10 described species, all from southern, Gondwana continents (Schmidt-Rhaesa & Geraci 2006, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Schwarz 2016). Characteristic for the genus is that the tail lobes taper distinctly towards a more or less pointed posterior tip. Recent SEM investigations (Schmidt- Rhaesa & Geraci 2006, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Schwarz 2016, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Lalramliana 2016) have discovered fine cuticular characters such as bristles and spines on the body cuticle and in the posterior end, which were probably overlooked in earlier descriptions. A region as described as above from posterior of the postcloacal crescent has been described from no species before and is, given its occurrence in two specimens, assumed to be a characteristic feature of this new species. Additionally, the cloacal opening appears to be in none of the previously described species so close to the postcloacal crescent as in the new species. The species Acutogordius doriae (Camerano, 1890) Heinze, 1952 is the only species reported from Malaysia (Camerano 1899) and therefore from the same region as A. koljai. Both species correspond in having a narrow postcloacal crescent, but differ in several other characters. Acutogordius doriae does not have the curved line and the spines present in the posterior end of A. koljai. Additionally, the tail lobes appear to be stronger pointed in A. doriae as compared to A. koljai (see Camerano 1890, Schmidt-Rhaesa & Geraci 2006).	en	Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Karraker, Nancy E. (2017): Nematomorpha from Hong Kong and description of a new species from Malaysia. Zootaxa 4238 (3): 395-405, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.6
