A new record of Sphaerolaimus macrocirculus (Filipjev 1918) in East Malaysian coastal water was described. The species was isolated from the muddy area of Muara Tebas, Sarawak, Malaysia. A total of 47 species of Sphaerolaimus have been reported worldwide. Samples of Sphaerolaimus macrocirculus were previously recorded in the sublittoral mud area of temperate country. S. macrocirculus possesses a stout body (1.1 – 1.6 mm; De Man ratios: a (body length/body width) = 16.8 – 27.5; b (body length/oesophagus length) = 2.3 – 4.3; c (body length/tail length) = 5.6 – 8.6). The circular amphid is very clear and situated at the base of the cephalic capsule. In male, the amphid ranged from 11.3 – 14.3 μm in diameter (mean = 12.7 ± 1.3) and 0.4 c.d. (corresponding diameter). In female, the amphid ranged from 7.2 – 9.4 μm in diameter (mean 7.8 ± 0.9) and 0.2 c.d. The species is characterised by the presence of eight groups of subcephalic setae at the head region and three longer term.....

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Deep-sea meiofaunal communities vary at a range of spatial scales. However, identifying which scale(s) account for most of the variability in deep-sea communities remains difficult, as few studies have been designed in such a way as to allow meaningful comparisons across more than two spatial scales. Moreover, deep-sea studies have largely focused on particular (macro) habitats in isolation, with few studies considering multiple habitats simultaneously in a comparable manner. In the present study, meiofaunal and nematode community attributes (abundance, diversity, community structure and trophic structure) were investigated at different spatial scales (sediment depth (em), habitat (slope, canyon, seamount, and seep: 1-- 100 km), and region (100-10000 km)) in two regions on the continental slope of New Zealand (Hikurangi Margin and Bay of Plenty), while accounting for the effects of water depth (700, 1000, 1200 and 1500 m). Nematode species new to science encountered during sampling on .....

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