Megadesmolaimus

Megadesmolaimus	Contents	Rev: 10/14/2026
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Megadesmolaimus Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Linhomoeidae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Monhysterida: Monhysterina
Sphaerolaimoidea
Linhomoeidae
Megadesmolaimus Wieser, 1954

Type species of the genus: Megadesmolaimus incisus Wieser, 1954

Synonyms:

Morphology and Anatomy:

Cuticle finely striated.
Inner labial sensilla setiform. Outer labial and cephalic setae in two separated crowns; cephalic setae longer than outer labial.
Amphids circular.
Buccal cavity cup-shaped with sclerotized walls and a cuticularized ring dividing the buccal cavity into two portions. Posterior portion surrounded by pharyngeal muscles.
Pharynx enlarged at the posterior end.
Tail conical or conico-cylindrical.

Females:

Ref: Fonseca and Bezerra, 2014

Males:

Spicules curved, cephalated.
Gubernaculum apophyses oriented caudally.

Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:

Distribution:

Free-living marine nematodes. Often in muddy sediment in intertidal regions.

Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Megadesmolaimus

Life Cycle:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click

Ecosystem Functions and Services:

References:

Fonseca, G. and Bezerra, T.N. 2014. 7.14 Order Monhysterida Filipjev, 1929. Handbook of Zoology. Gastrotricha, Cycloneuralia and Gnathifera: Nematoda, 2, pp.433-465.

Wieser, W. 1954. Untersuchungen uber die algenbewohnende Mikrofauna mariner Hartbeden. III. Zur Systematik der freilebenden Nematoden des Mittelmeeres. Mit einer Ekologischen Untersuchung uber die Beziehung zwischen Nematodenbesiedlung und Sedimentreichtum des Habitats. Hydrobiologia 6:144-217.