Epacanthion		Contents		Rev: 02/22/2024
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Epacanthion Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Thoracostomopsidae Menu		Feeding		References
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Classification:

Enoplea

  Enoplia
        Enoplida

            Enoplina

                Enoploidea

                     Thoracostomopsidae

Enoplolaiminae

Epacanthion  Wieser, 1953

Type species of the genus: Epacanthion buetschlii (Southern, 1914) Wieser, 1953

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

The genus Epacanthion is characterized by:

• cephalic capsule strongly sclerotized, head broadly wedge- or cone-shaped.
• lips high, mostly striated. Inner labial setae long and inserted at the base of lip flaps; outer labial and cephalic setae situated at middle or anterior end of cephalic capsule.
• Cervical setae often present, can be numerous in males, and are sexually dimorphic.
• mandibles consist of two plate-shaped columns separated by a thin sheet of cuticle (space between columns not solid) and only connected anteriorly by a bar The structure of the mandibles is considered the most important feature for the genus diagnosis. Epacanthion is closely related to Enoploides and Mesacanthion  but differs from these two genera by the absence of a solid connection between the mandibular bars.
• three mandibular teeth small with gland which opens at tip.
• cuticle usually smooth.
•  pharynx relatively long and cylindrical; cardia pyriform.
• Females didelphic-amphidelphic with reflexed ovaries at left side of the intestine.
• Males diorchic with both testes at left side of the intestine; gubernaculum without apophyses present or absent.
• Spicules mostly long (about 2.5 anal diameters long) or short; gubernaculum without apophysis present or absent.
• Preanal supplement present or absent.
• Three caudal glands, cells pre-caudally.
• Tail narrowly conical or attenuated.

ref: Guilherme et al., 2009

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Distribution:

Free-living predatory marine nematodes.

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Feeding:

Predator species

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Predators; regulation of opportunistic species.

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Management:

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References:

Guilherme, B.C., Da Silva, M.C., Esteves, A.M. 2009. Description of a new species of Epacanthion (Thoracostomopsidae, Nematoda) from Brazil and a modified key for species identification. Zootaxa 2096:99-1089.

Koppner, E.J. 1987. Another new species of free-living marine nematode (Nematoda: Enoplida) from Northwest Florida, USA. Trans. Amer. Mic. Soc. 106:348-353.

Smol, N., Muthumbi, A., Sharma, J. 2014. Order Enoplida, 7.3. In Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (ed) Handbook of Zoology. De Gruyter, Berlin

Wieser, W. 1953. Free-living marine nematodes I Enoploidea. Chile reports 10. Lunds Univenztets Arsskrift, 49, 155 pp.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: February 22, 2024.