Neotonchus melotridus

Neotonchus melotridus	Contents	Rev: 12/09/2024
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Neotonchus Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Neotonchidae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Chromadorida
Neotonchidae
Neotonchus melotridus Wieser & Hopper, 1966

    Synonyms:

Morphology and Anatomy:

Large, fairly slender nematodes, 1.14 mm.
Labial and inner cephalic sensilla papilliform, outer cepalic sensill setiform, implanted at level of cetnetr of amphids.
Lip region low
Amphids large, multispiral, diemayter 70 of head width, more that 3 turns.
Cuticle annulation distinct with punctation on and between annules.
Buccal cavity elongate,; dorsal tooth small, subventral teeth smaller
Esophagus occupying about 10% of body length., with an oval basal bulb.
Tail conical, blunt, 3.6 x abd long.

Neotonchus melotridus 7: Male head, lateral view; 8: Male head, sunventral view; 9-10: Esophageal bulb; 11: Male tail; 12: Left spicule; 13: Right spicule

Neotonchus phaleratus 14: Male head; 15: Female head; 16: Esophageal bulb; 17: Male tail; 18: Female tail

Drawings from Wieser and Hopper, 1966

Females:

Didelphic, amphidelphic, ovaries reflexed.

Ref: Wieser and Hopper, 1966

Males:

Monorchic, testis outstretched,
Spicules very characteristic shape, proximal two-thirds fairly straight and nearly uniform thickness, distal third narrowed, cylindroid, and with a slightly S-shaped curvature between second and distal third.
Gubernaculum plate-shaped.
9 strong pre-cloacal supplements, one pre-cloacal seta

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

Distribution:

Described from ocean floor at a depth of 12 m, 6 km southeast of mouth of the North Edisto River, South Carolina, USA

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:

Wieser, W. and Hopper, B. 1966. The Neotonchinae, new subfamily (Cyatholaimidae: Nematoda), with an analysis of its genera, Neotonchus Cobb, 1933 and Gomphionema new genus. Canadian J. Zool. 44:519-532.