Fotolaimus		Contents		Rev 11/22/2024
		Classification		Hosts
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Fotolaimus Menu		Economic Importance		Damage
		Distribution		Management
Return to Oncholaimidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Enoplea

     Enoplia

        Enoplida

              Oncholaimoidea

                    Oncholaimidae

Oncholaiminae

Fotolaimus Belogurova & Belogurov, 1974

Type species of the genus: Fotolaimus marinus Belogurova & Belogurov, 1974

Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

With general chracteristics of Oncholaiminae. Characteristics of the genus include:

• Left ventrosublateral tooth larger than the two other teeth.
• Spicules shorter than 2.0 cloacal body diameters.
• Gubernaculum present.
• Demanian system present, posterior end of main duct forming two symmetrical sacs each with five or more terminal ducts.

.The Demanian system is a set of canals, junctions and pores unique for some genera of Oncholaimidae. The system differs from simple (primitive) to more complex (advanced) in different genera and species. 

Ref; Shimada et al., 2023

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Distribution:

Some speciies described from submarine caves.

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Economic Importance:

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Feeding:

 Probably omnivore-predators with large stoma and sharp teeth

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Life Cycle:

The following observations on sexual processes  may differ among genera and species.

The Demanian system  features in "traumatic insemination" in which the male uses spicules and secretions puncture the cuticle of the posterior part of the female to form a copulatory pore. Sperm and secretions are released into the pore. The introduced sperm cells move through terminal ducts and reach the main duct of the Demanian system. The sperm move forward and are temporarily stored around the uvette in the main duct. From there they enter the uterus through the ductus uterinus. Eggs are fertilized in the uterus (Coomans et al., 1988; Tchesunov, 2015),

With each copulation, a new copulation pore and interstitial channel are formed. After withdrawal of the spicules a "wound plug" seals the pore. When copulations are frequent, sperm of a previous insemination are evacuated to the intestine through the osmosium. Coomans et al (1998) hypothesize that subsequent copulations result in the fertilization of different groups of eggs by different males.

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Damage:

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Management:

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References:

Shimada, D., Kakui, K., Fujita, Y. 2023. A new species of free-living marine nematode, Fotolaimus cavus sp. nov. (Nematoda, Oncholaimida, Oncholaimidae), isolated from a submarine anchialine cave in the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. Zoosyst. Evol. 99:519-533  DOI 10.3897/zse.99.109097

Smol, N., Muthumbi, A., Sharma, J. 2014. Order Enoplida, 7.3. In Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (ed) Handbook of Zoology. De Gruyter, Berlin

Tchesunov, A.V. 2015. Free-living nematode species (Nematoda) in hydrothermal sites of the North Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Helgoland Marine Research 69:343-384.

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: November 22, 2024.