Sphaerolaimus balticus		Contents		Rev: 06/18/2024
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Sphaerolaimus Menu		Economic Importance		Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Sphaerolaimidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

   Monhysterida

Monhysterina

Sphaerolaimoidea

                Sphaerolaimidae

       Sphaerolaimus balticus Schneider, 1906

    Synonyms:
      

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Large buccal cavity surrounded by solid, heavily sclerotized buccal capsule
• Esophagus strongly cuticularized
• Cuticle with faint subcephalic setae
• Six small labial papillae, cervical setae in eight lines.
• Somatic setae shorter and scattered.
• Amphids situated posteriortoe buccal cavity.
• Esophagus widens posteriorly, but withouitdistinct bulb.
• Tail conical, with a slight terminal dilation.

Ref: Annapurna et al., 2012

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Distribution:

Often found in muddy intertidal zones. Reported from intertidal muddy sand off coast of England.sublitteral sedimensts, Scotland and at depths of 250-1000m off northeast coast of India.

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Economic Importance:

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Feeding:

Predaceous on other nematodes in estuarine environments (Moens and Vincx, 1997). Categorized as predators by Yeates et al. (1993).

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

Ecophysiological Parameters:

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Annapurna, C., Vijaya Bhanu, C., Srinivasa Rao, M., Sivalakshmi, M.V., Lilly M. .Cooper, G., Rao, Y.K. 2012. Free-living nematodes along the continental slope off northeast coast of India. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 54:52-60.

Moens, Y. and Vincx, M. 1997. Observations on the feeding ecology of estuarine nematodes. Journal of the Marine Biology Assoc. U.K. 77:211-227.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 18, 2024.