Diplopeltula

  

Contents

  

Rev: 06/17/2024

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Diplopeltula Menu   Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Diplopeltidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
  Chromadoria
       Araeolaimida
Araeolaimoidea
Diplopeltidae
        Diplopeltula Gerlach, 1950

Type species of the genus: Diplopeltula breviceps Gerlach, 1950

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Species of the genus Diplopeltula are quite different from each other so that it is rather difficult to establish a concise generic diagnosis: a combination of many different characters occurs in several species (Vincx and Gourbault, 1992).

Females:

  • Generally similar to male
  • Didelpic-amphidelphic; ovaries short; reflexed
  • Vagina heavily sclerotized

Ref: Vincx and Gourbault, 1992; Annapurna et al., 2012
Diplopeltula pulchra. A: Male; B: Female; C: Male head; D: Female paryngeal region; E: Femal tail region; F: Male tail region.
From Vincx and Gourbault, 1992

Males:   (D. pulchra as example)

  • Elongated body, rounded head, cylindrical tail.
  • Cuticle strated, each annule with fine longitudinal striations
  • Scattered, short and scarce somatic setate along body
  • Lips small, labial sensilla not obvious
  • Amphid fovea distinct, loop shaped
  • Buccal cavity minute, no teeth
  • Pharynx muscular with anterior buccal bulb and posterior pyriform bulb
  • Diorchic, testes outstretched
  • Spicules strong, curved, sclerotized
  • Gubernaculum small
  • Tail cylindrical; 3 caudal glands open through a small spinneret


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

Free-living marine nematodes. Species are reported from the North Sea, tropical regions and from the deep sea.

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Feeding:

Presumably epistrate/dissoleved organic matter feeders
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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

 
For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
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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.

Vincx, M. and Gourbault, N. 1992. Six new species of the genus Diplopeltula (Nematoda: Diplopeltidae) with remarks on the heterogeneity of the taxon  Hydrobiologia 230:165-178.

 

 

 

Copyright  1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 17, 2024.