Eophasma		Contents		Rev: 11/25/2022
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Eophasma Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Eophasmidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

  Desmoscolecida

    Desmoscolecina

Superfamily Desnoscolecoidea

Eophasmidae

       Eophasma  Arduini, Pinna & Terruzi, 1983

Type species of the genus: Eophasma jurasicum Arduini, Pinna & Terruzi, 1983

A fossil free-living marine nematode

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Elongate body
• Coarsely annulated cuticle
• Short somatic setae
• Head truncate
• Buccal cavity may have teeth
• Single monotypic species: Eophasma jurasicum Arduini, Pinna & Terruzi, 1983 which is a fossil marine detritivore  preserved in a Jurassic deposit in Italy  The nematode is exceptionally large, 35-55mm long and 1.2-2 mm diam. (Poinar et al., 2011).

Ref: Decraemer and Rho, 2013.     

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Distribution:

Reported as fossil nematodes.

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Feeding:

Free-living marine nematode fossil

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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:

Ardini, P., Pinna, G., Terruzi, G. 1983. Eophasma jurasicum 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.

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: November 25, 2022.