Molgolaimus macilenti

Molgolaimus macilenti	Contents	Rev: 08/24/2026
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Molgolaimus Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Desmodoridae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Desmodorida: Desmodorina
Desmodoroidea
Desmodoridae: Spiriniinae
Molgolaimus macilenti Fonseca, Vanreusel & Decraemer, 2006

    Synonyms:

Morphology and Anatomy:

Body cylindrical; Head offset from body contour by a constriction. Cephalic sensilla small at the level of the constriction.
Amphidial fovea circular and small, 50% of the correspondingt body diam and 10-12 um from the anterior end.
Pharyngeal region very slender; cardia twice as long as wide.
Tail conical cylindrical, relatively short (54-75 um).

Females:

Didelphic, amphidelphic, ovaries reflexed; both he right side of the intestine.

Molgolaimus macilenti 1: female total body; b: female anterior; c: male total body; d: male anterior; e: male posterior
Drawings from Fonseca et al., 2006

Males:

Monorchic; testis anteriorly directed on left of intestine
Spicules medium-sized, straight, 3.2-3.5 abd long; capitulum poorly developed.
Sperm cells clustered.
Gubernaculum small and straight.
Two equidistant pre-cloacal supplements.

Ref: Fonseca et al., 2006

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

Distribution:

Described from Drake Passage, Kapp Norvegia and Bransfield Strait (near King George Island), Wadell Sea

Life Cycle:

Presence of sperm cells in male suggests sexual reproduction.

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:

Fonseca, G., Vanreusel, A., Decraemer, W. 2006. Taxonomy and biogeography of Molgolaimus Ditlevsen, 1921 (Nematoda: Chromadoria) with reference to the origins of deep sea nematodes. Antarctic Science 18:23-50