Desmoscolex laevis

Desmoscolex laevis	Contents	Rev: 06/18/2024
	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
	Go to Nemaplex Main Menu	Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

hromadorea
Chromadoria
Desmoscolecida
Desmoscolecina: Desmoscolecoidea
Desmoscolecidae: Subfamily: Demoscolecinae
Tribe: Desmoscolecina
Desmoscolex laevis Kreis, 1928

    Synonyms:

Morphology and Anatomy:

Cuticle with 17 large raised rings, covered with many dark, coarse concretion particles (desmen-like structure)
The main rings are separated from each other by interzones, composed of 2 (or) 3 secondary rings.
The secondary rings mostly bear, short spines, which are not always distinct.
Amphids large, distally swollen amphids
Tail withs two connection ring; the terminal main ring twice asas the ring anterior to it and ends in a swollen zone, bent ventrally with a terminal spinneret.

Ref: Annapurna, 2012

	Females:
Desmoscolex laevis P: Male posterior; A: Male anterior Drawings from Annapurna et al., 2012
Males:
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

Distribution:

Reported as a fossil from the Mesozoic (Arduini et al., 1983; Poinar, 2011)

Life Cycle:

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click	If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters

Ecosystem Functions and Services :

Ardini, P., Pinna, G., Terruzi, G. 1983. Desmoscolex laevis n.g. n.sp., a new fossil nematode os tyhe Sinemurian of Osteno in Lombardy. Atti. della Soc. Ital. Sci. Natural. e del Museo Civico di Storia Natural di Milano 124:61-64.

Decraemer, W. and Rho, H.S. 2013. Order Desmosdcolecida. Handbook of Zoology Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda

Poinar, G.O. 2011. The Evolutionary History of Nematodes as Revealed in Stone, Amber and Mummies.Nematology Monographs and Perspective 9.

Poinar, G.O., Hunt, D.J., Perry, R.N. 2011. Nematodes from the Mesozoic. Nematology Monographs and Perspectives 9:27-52.