Desmoscolex		Contents		Rev: 08/24/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Desmoscolex Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Desmoscolecidae Menu		Feeding		References
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Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

  Desmoscolecida

    Desmoscolecina

Desmoscolecoidea

     Desmoscolecidae

Subfamily: Demoscolecinae

        Tribe:  Desmoscolecina

       Desmoscolex Claparede, 1863

Type species of the genus: Desmoscolex minutus Claparede. 1863

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

	Desmoscolex sp. from depths of Western Pacific Ocean scanning electron micrograph by Shirayama and Hope, 1992. Labial region of adults covered with cephalic tubercles that are best seen with SEM. (Unlike the simple lip region of Tricoma). Cuticular rings (12-44) composed of desmens which are rings of sedimentary particles held together by cementing materials (desmos). Interzonesa between the rings with 1 to 5 aannules Large pigment spots (ocelli) often present in anterior intestine. Amphids large circular to oval, distally swollen, Pharynx short and cylindrical Tail with two connection rings; the terminal main ring twice as large as the ring anterior to it and ends in a swollen zone, bent ventrally with a terminal spinneret. Female reproductive system didelphic-amphidelphic; one spermatheca on each side        Ref: Shirayama and Hope, 1992; Annapurna et al., 2012; Decraemer, 1985; Huang and Guo, 2022
Desmoscolex sp from deep ocean.  Source NIWA and D. Leduc. Scale bar = 100um
Desmoscolex sp. from depths of Western Pacific Ocean scanning electron micrograph by Shirayama and Hope, 1992.
Desmoscolex sp. Female from ocean sample, San Fernando, Veracruz, Mexico Photomicrograph by Dr. Ignacio Cid del Prado Vera
Males:
Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:

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Distribution:

Reported from sublittoral sediment  and kelp off the coast of Scotland; West Ireland; northeast England, intertidal seaweeds on Isles of Scilly; also from barua (500 m depth), northeast coast of India (Annapurna et al., 2012). Also from East China Sea (Huang and Guo, 2022)

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Desmoscolex

Free-living marine nematodes

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

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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.

Coomans, A., Vincx, M., Decraemer, W. 1985. Nematodes from a fresh-water pool on a coral island in the Solomon Islands. Hydrobiologia 123:265-281.

Decraemer, W. 1985. Revision and phylogenetic systematics of the Desmoscolecida (Nematoda). Hydrobiologia 120:259-283.

Decraemer, W. and Rho, H.S. 2013. 7.11 Order Desmoscolecida. In Schmidt-Rheas and de Gruyter, W. Handbook of Zoology.Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda

Huang, Y. and Guo, Y. 2022. Free-living Marine Nematodes from the East China Sea. Springer, Singapore and Science Press, Beijing.

Platt, H. M. and R. M. Warwick. 1988. Free-living marine nematodes. Part II: British Chromadorids. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) NO. 38, Brill, E.J., Leiden, 501pp

Shirayama, Y. and Hope. W.D. 1992. Cephalic tubercles: a new character useful for the taxonomy of Desmoscolecida (Nematoda). Trans. Am. Microscop. Assoc: 111:211-222..

Revised by Howard Ferris.
Revised: August 24, 2026.