Mesacanthoides		Contents		Rev: 06/11/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Mesacanthoides Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Thoracostomopsidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Enoplea

  Enoplia
        Enoplida

            Enoplina

                Enoploidea

                    Thoracostomopsidae

Enoplolaiminae

Mesacanthoides Wieser, 1953

Type species of the genus: Mesacanthoides sculptilis Wieser, 1953

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

The genus Mesacanthoides is characterized by:

• Lips not striated.
• Mandibles solid with claws. Teeth shorter than mandibles.
• Characteristics a transition between Mesacanthion and Enoploides
• Marine.

ref: Smol et al., 2014

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Distribution:

Free-living predatory marine nematodes.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Mesacanthoides

Predatory on marine organisms.

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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:

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 Universitets, Arsskrift.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 11, 2026.