Family Eophasmidae

Rev. 11/25/2022

Phylum Nematoda

  Class Enoplea

    Subclass Chromadoria

     Order Desmoscolecida

        Superfamily Demoscolecoidea

Eophasmidae Poinar, 2011

A fossil family of free-living marine nematodes.

Type genus of the family: Eophasma Arduini, Pinna & Terruzi, 1983

• Elongate body
• Coarsely annulated cuticle
• A few short somatic setae
• Head truncate
• Buccal cavity may have teeth
• Single monotypic species: Eophasma jurasicum Arduini, Pinna & Terruzi, 1983 which is a fossil marine detritivore  preserved in a Jurassic deposit in Italy  The nematode is exceptionally large, 35-55mm long and 1.2-2 mm diam. (Poinar et al., 2011).

Ref: Decraemer and Rho, 2013.             

References

Decraemer, W. and Rho, H.S. 2013. Order Desmosdcolecida. Handbook of Zoology Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda

Poinar, G.O. 2011. The Evolutionary History of Nematodes as Revealed in Stone, Amber and Mummies.Nematology Monographs and Perspective 9.

Poinar, G.O., Hunt, D.J., Perry, R.N. 2011. Nematodes from the Mesozoic. Nematology Monographs and Perspectives 9:27-52.

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