Metoncholaimus		Contents		Rev 12/16/2025
		Classification		Hosts
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Metoncholaimus 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

Metoncholaimus

Type species of the genus: Metoncholaimus demani (Zur Strassen, 1894) Filipjev, 1918

Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

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Distribution:

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Economic Importance:

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Metoncholaimus

 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:

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

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: December 16, 2025.