Psammonema		Contents		Rev: 07/27/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Psammonema 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

      Psammonema Verschelde & Vincx, 1995

    Type species of the genus:  Psammonema ovisetocum Verschelde & Vincx, 1995

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

General characteristics of the genus

• Cephalic capsule with well-offset labial region
• Cuticle finely annulated;
• Lateral alae present from anterior third of pharynx to anal region.
• Different types of somatic setae in female. No subcephalic setae but additional setae may be present.
• Amphideal fovea open, loop-shaped in male, cryptospiral to closed loop-shaped in female.
• Buccal cavity with a crown of denticles, a strong dorsal tooth and two small ventrosublateral teeth.
• Pharynx with tripartite slightly prolonged end bulb.

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Distribution:

Marine nematodes

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Psammonema

Probably epistrate feeders

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Biology and Ecology:

Marine nematodes, free-lving.

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Life Cycle:

Brood protection may be present in female.

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

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

Verschelde, D. and Vincx, M. 1995. Psammonema gen.n. and Pseudochromadora Daday, 1889 (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) from sandy sediments of Gazi, Kenya. Bull. del ' Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Biologie 55: 1-26.

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: July 27, 2026.