Family Epsilonematidae

Revised 05/28/25

Nematoda

Chromadorea

Chromadoria

Desmodorida

Desmodorina

Desmodoroidea

Epsilonematidae Steiner, 1927

Marine nematodes. Frequently found with supralittoral or intertidal marine fauna, but also in the deep sea.  Coral fragments are an ideal substrate.

• Epsilonematidae are characterized by having an ε-shaped body (hence the name).with widest regions at level of pharynx and reproductive system.
• Ambulatory setae, used in looper locomotion,  on the ventral surface of the body, slender, straight or bent, arranged in four to five longitudinal rows in anterior half of posterior body region; pre- and postvulvar in females but only one or two pairs of setae being posterior to vulva.    
• Rostrum with eight subcephalic setae (six in Epsilonema espeeli and Epsilonema lasium and 16 setae at base of head in Epsilonema enigmaticum).
• Amphideal fovea spiral, cryptospiral, or almost circular, with possible sexual dimorphism in size.
• Separate outlets for the three caudal glands is common among the genera of this family. 
              

Nematodes of the Epsilonematidae are adapted to functioning and surviving in environments with strong current through the adapatation of adhesive and ambulatory setae  Frequently they have been found associated with and adhering to coral and sponge fragments as well as in sediments.

Nematodes of the Epsilonematidae predominated in the nematode assemblages of shallow subtidal areas of the Italian coast, probably due to the occurrence of coarse sediments. (Sandulli et al., 2011)

References:

Leduc, D., Zhao, Z. 2016. Phylogenetic relationships within the superfamily Desmodoroidea (Nematoda: Desmodorida), with descriptions of two new and one known species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 176: 511–536. https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12324

Raes, M., W. Decraemer and A. Vanreusel. 2006. Postembryonic morphology in Epsilonematidae, with a discussion on the variability of caudal gland outlets.  J. Nematology 38:97-118.

Raes, M., Decraemer, W., Vanreusel, A. 2008. Walking with worms: coral-associated epifaunal nematodes. J. Biogeography 35:2207-2222.

Sandulli, R., De Leonardis, C., Vincx, M., Vanaverbeke, J. 2011. Geographical and depth-related patterns in nematode communities from some Italian Marine Protected Areas. Italian J. Zoology, 78: 505-516.

Steiner, G. 1927. Epsilonematidae, a new nemic family. The Journal of Parasitology, 14:65-66.

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