Thoracostoma fatimae

 

Contents

  

Rev: 03/05/2026

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

Enoplea
  Enoplia
        Enoplida
            Ironina
                Ironoidea
                     Leptosomatidae
Thoracostomatinae
                  

Thoracostoma fatimae De Oliveira, Decraemer, Holovachov, Burr, De Ley, De Ley, Moens & Derycke, 2012

Based on integrative molecular and morphometric analysis, De Oliveira et al (2012) determined that Thoracostoma trachygaster is actually a species complex containing at least three molecularly and morphologically distinct species, including T. fatimae and T. igniferum. .

    Synonyms:
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Morphology and Anatomy:

 Thoracostoma fatimae is morphologically nearly identical to Thoracostoma trachygaster but can be distinguished by spicule length (100-123 um in T. fatimae  vs. 124-173um in T. trachygaster.

Common to both pecies:

 

Females:

  • Amphidelphic with reflexed ovaries
  • Intracuticular granules surrounding the transverse vagina.

Ref:  De Oliveira et al. 2012
 

Males:  

  • Diorchic, testes opposed, outstretched.
  • Spicules 100-123um long, wider in the middle region.
  • Gubernaculum is duplicated; at the proximal end is a membrane surrounding the spicule.
  • A ventromedian cyathiform winged supplement.

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

 
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Distribution:

Free-living marine nematodes. Collected from stranded holdfasts of Macrocystis sp. in Malibu Beach, California, USA. Additional locations where specimens were collected are Ventura Beach and Torrey Pines, California, USA (De Oliveira et al., 2012) .

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Feeding:

Free-living marine nematodes. Epistrate feedrs on surface of kelp and algae.

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Biology and Ecology:

Based on their integrative approach, De Oliveira et al (201) postulate that there are morphological differences amongst genetic lineages within what was previously thought to be one nominal species (T. trachygaster). Consequently, by describing the new species and giving them scientific namesscientific names (T. fatimae and T. igniferum), they ensured that these closely related species are no longer cryptic. They explain that this is important for a wide range of future studies addressing biogeography, biodiversity, phylogeography, and population genetics of nematodes in general, and Thoracostoma in particular.

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Life Cycle:

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters
 
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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

 
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References:

De Oliveira, D.A.S., Decraemer, W., Holovachov, O., Burr, J., De Ley, I.T., De Ley, P., Moens, T., Derycke, S. 2012. An integrative approach to characterize cryptic species in the Thoracostoma trachygaster Hope, 1967 complex (Nematoda: Leptosomatidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164:18-35.

Hope W.D., 1967. Free-living marine nematodes of the genera Pseudocella Filipjev, 1927, Thoracostoma Marion, 1870, and Deontostoma Filipjev, 1916 (Nematoda: Leptosomatidae) from the West Coast of North America. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 86: 307-334.

 

 

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: March 05, 2026.