Ethmolaimus

Ethmolaimus	Contents	Rev: 02/20/2026
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Ethmolaimus Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Ethmolaimidae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Chromadorida: Chromadorina
Chromadoroidea
Ethmolaimidae: Ethmolaiminae
Ethmolaimus de Man, 1880

Type species of the genus: Ethmolaimus pratensis de Man, 1880

Synonyms:

Parachromadora Micoletzky, 1914

Triodontolaimus Micoletzky, 1913

Trietholaimus Platt, 1982

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Head rounded with labial region not offset.
Cuticle with transversal rows of punctation; supporting rods elongated in head region; lateral differentiation may appear as large dots
Pattern of anterior sensilla six + six + four; inner labial sensilla papillose, outer labial sensilla papillose or setose, cephalic sensilla setose or papillose.
Amphideal fovea rounded and spirally coiled in one turn, located at the level of the stoma.
Pharyngostoma tubular, with sclerotized walls and with three nearly equal teeth anteriorly, or subventral teeth, some smaller than the dorsal tooth.
Pharynx around the stoma slightly thickened and offset; terminal thickening or bulb also present.
Tail conical, usually rounded tip.

Females:

Didelphic-amphidelphic; anterior and posterior gonadon the different sides of the intestine

Ref: Tchesunov, 2013

Ethmolaimus spp. Anterior and posterior regions of the species indicated.
Drawings from: Gagarin & Naumova, 2023

Males:

Ventral row of precloacal cup-shaped supplements; ventral precloacal seta present.

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

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Distribution:

Most species are freshwater, some occur in brackish biotopes.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Ethmolaimus

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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:

Gagarin, V,G,, Naumova, T.V. 2023. Morphological review of the genus Ethmolaimus de Man 1880 (Nematoda, Chromadorida). Amurian Zool. J. 15:9-14.

Tchesunov, A.V. 2014. Order Chromadorida Chitwood, 1933, in A. Schmidt-Rhaesa. Handbook of Zoology, Gastrotricha, Cycloneuralia and Gnathifers, Vol 2. Nematoda. De Gruyter, Berlin. 759p

Ethmolaimus

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris. Revised: February 20, 2026.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: February 20, 2026.