Rhabdochona (Globochana) spinicauda new species (Nematoda: Rhabdochnidae) from the putitor mahaseer, Tor putitora, in Pakistan

A new nematode species Rhabdochona (Globochona) spinicauda n. sp. based on fifth stage larvae (L5 or young adults)-is described here from the intestine of a freshwater fish, the putitor mahaseer Tor putitora (Ham.). The main diagnostic trait is the possession of a prominent spine at the tail tip of female specimens. The new nematode parasite is also characterized by possessing square-shaped eggs with cuticular floats on four sides of its surface, 0.012-0.018 by 0.005-0.02 mm in size; a thick, muscular, backwardly directed vagina; 10 teeth in the prostome; two very unequal and dissimilar spicules with spicular ratio 1:2.48-2.55 and 11 pairs of caudal papillae (6 preanal, 5 postanal) at the caudal end of male specimens.