Adelphos

 

Contents

  

Rev: 08/10/2026

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Adelphos Menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Desmodoridae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
  Chromadoria
   Desmodorida
Desmodorina
             Desmodoroidea
                Desmodoridae
       Stilbonematinae

  •         Adelphos Ott, 1997
    •      
    Type species of the genus:  Adelphos rolandi Ott, 1997

        Synonyms:

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    Morphology and Anatomy:

     

    Females:

    • Didelphic

     
     

    Males:  

    • Monorchic
    • Gubernaculum with weak curved dorsocaudal apophysis.
    • One row of midventral thorn-like setae posterior to the neck region and paired rows of thorn-like setae on the tail.

    Ref: Tchesunov, 2013

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

     

     
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    Feeding:

    Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Adelphos

    Nematodes in the subfamily Stilbonematinae of the Desmodoridae are associated with, and feed on,  dense coatings of sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic gammaproteobacteria with which they are apparently obligately symbiotic. The nematodes inhabit environments with low oxygen availability and reducing conditions. Essentially, the nematodes farm their bacterial associates by migrating to ocean sediments rich in hydrogen sulfide (Bulgheresi Reference Bulgheresi2011; Murfin et al. Reference Murfin, Dillman, Foster, Bulgheresi, Slatko, Sternberg and Goodrich-Blair2012; Blaxter, M. and Koutsovoulos, G. 2015)

     

     

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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:

    Transfer  ectosymbiotic bacteria among sulfidic and oxidized layers of sediiment (Moens et al., 2014)

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    Management:

     
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    References:

    Armenteros, M., Ruiz-Abierno, A., Decraemer, W. 2014. Taxonomy of Stilbonematinae (Nematoda: Desmodoridae): description of two new and three known species and phylogenetic relationships within the family. Zool; J. of the Linnean Soc. 171:1-21.

    Blaxter, M. and Koutsovoulos, G. 2015. The evolution of parasitism in Nematoda. Parasitology 142: S26-S39.

    Bulgheresi, S. 2011. Calling the roll on Laxus oneistus immune defense molecules. Symbiosis 55:127-135.

    Chitwood, B.G. 1936. Some marine nematodes from North Carolina. Proc. Helmint. Soc. Wash. 3: 1-16.

    Murfin, K. E., Dillman, A. R., Foster, J. M., Bulgheresi, S., Slatko, B. E., Sternberg, P. W. and Goodrich-Blair, H. 2012. Nematode-bacterium symbioses - cooperation and conflict revealed in the Omics age. Biological Bulletin 223: 85-102.

    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.

     

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    Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
    Revised: August 10, 2026.