Smithsoninema

 

Contents

  

Rev: 09/22/2022

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Smithsoninema Menu   Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Leptolaimidae Menu Feeding  References
    Go to Nemaplex Main Menu   Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea
  Chromadoria
       Plectida
Leptolaimoidea
Leptolaimidae
Camacolaiminae
        Smithsoninema Hope & Tchesunov, 1999
 
  Type species of the genus:      Smithsoninema inaequale Hope & Tchesunov, 1999

Note: Subfamily Camaolaiminae elevated to family level (Camacolaimidae) by some authorities.

    Synonyms:
     

Back to Top

Morphology and Anatomy:

 

Ref: Hope and Tchesunov, 1999

 

Females:

  •   Female stout and spindle-shaped.
  • Amphids not discernible.
  • Stoma unarmed.
  • Esophagus short, non-muscular and posteriorly glandular.
  • Excretory pore and renette apparently absent.
  • Midgut voluminous and trophosome-like with globular, intracellular inclusions; rectum and anus vestigial.
  • Ovaries paired, opposed and antidromously reflexed.

  
 

Males:  

  • Male  thin  and  attenuated. 
  • Amphid  aperture  circular  (modified  spiral) located anterior  to  cephalic  sensilla. 
  •  Lateral  alae  and  ocelli  absent. 
  • Dorsal  onchiostyle present. 
  • Esophagus non-muscular with enlarged glandular posterior region and  narrow  anterior  isthmus through which  gland  duct passes to  base  of onchiostyle. 
  •  Excretory pore and renette not observed. 
  • Testes paired, directed anteriad, and outstretched;
  • Precloacal and cervical midventral supplements absent; papilliform ventromedian supplements present on tail


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

 

 

 

Back to Top

Distribution:

Marine nematodes. Smithsoninema inaequale was collected off the coast of Luanda, Angola; a single male and female were observed in a foramineferan test.

Back to Top

Feeding:

 
Back to Top

Biology and Ecology:

Back to Top

Life Cycle:

 
For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
Back to Top

Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Back to Top

Management:

 
Back to Top

References:

Holovachov, O. and Bostrom, S. 2004. Morphology and systematics of the superfamilies Leptolaimoidea Oerley, 1880 and Camacolaimoidea Micoletzky, 1924 (Nematoda: Plectida).  J. Nematode Morphology and Systematics 7:1-49.

Hope, W.D. and Tchesunov, A.V. 1999. Smithsoninema inaequale n.g,  and n.sp. (Nematoda, Leptolaimidae) inhabiting the test of a foraminiferan. Invertebrate Biology 118:95-108.

 

 
Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: September 22, 2022.