Rev. 12/14/20
Desmoscolecida Filipjev, 1929
body small and stout
have a head cap or cephalic helmet and for cephalic setae
amphids generally rounded, on or near head
have somatic setae
heavily ornamented and annulated cuticle, sometimes with warts, scales or spines
mouth cavity minute, esophagus cylindrical and short
females diovrial, gonads outstretched or reflexed
males monorchic or diorchic, without supplements
have spinneret and caudal glands
typically marine, some freshwater and soil.
Systematics rather complex with subfamilies, genera, subgenera and tribes described.
Andrássy, I. 2005. Free-living Nematodes of Hungary, Vol. I. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest.
Decraemer, W. and Rho, H.S. 2013. Order Desmosdcolecida. Handbook of Zoology Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda