Acanthopharynx

Acanthopharynx	Contents	Rev: 08/24/2026
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Acanthopharynx Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Desmodoridae Menu	Feeding	References
	Go to Nemaplex Main Menu	Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Desmodorida: Desmodorina
Desmodoroidea
Desmodoridae: Desmodorinae
Acanthopharynx Marion, 1870

Synonyms:

Xanthodora Cobb, 1920

Back to Top

Morphology and Anatomy:

Differences between described species are quite subtle. Features with diagnostic value include size and shape of amphidial fovea, number of subcephalic setae, presence/absence of denticles, de Man ratio a, number of precloacal supplements and length of spicules and gubernaculum.
Head capsule conspicuous, characterized by the thickened cuticle and mostly with an external demarcation between labial and cephalic regions
Cuticle strongly striated, especially anteriorly
Amphidial fovea unispiral on a cuticularized plate, not surrounded by cuticle striations
Buccal cavity with large dorsal tooth and two or more small subventral teeth or denticles.
Pharyngeal bulb elongate, i.e., half as long as the pharynx and tripartite.
Spinneret present

Ref: Armenteros et al., 2014; Tchesunov, 2013

Females:

Didelphic

Males:

Male monorchic
Spicules strongly bent, with capitulum,
Gubernaculum a straight rod oriented dorsally.
Ventromedian row of pore-like or papilloid precloacal supplements.

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

Back to Top

Distribution:

Free-living marine nematodes described from deep sediment.

Back to Top

Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Acanthopharynx

Probably epistrate feeders

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:

Armenteros, M., Ruiz-Abierno, A., Decraemer, W. 2014. Revision of Desmodorinae and Spiriniinae (Nematoda: Desmodoridae) with redescription of eight known species. European J. Taxonomy 96:1-32.

Tchesunov. A.V. 2013. 7.13 Order Desmodorida de Coninck, 1965 In Schmidt-Rheas and de Gruyter, W. Handbook of Zoology.Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda

Wieser W. 1954. Free-living marine nematodes II. Chromadoroidea. Acta Universitatis Lundensis (N. F. 2) 50, C.W.K. Gleerup, Lund

Acanthopharynx

Revised by Howard Ferris. Revised: August 24, 2026.

Revised by Howard Ferris.
Revised: August 24, 2026.