Paramesacanthion		Contents		Rev: 06/12/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Paramesacanthion 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

Paramesacanthion  Wieser, 1953

Type species of the genus: Paramesacanthion klugei (Filipjev, 1927) Wieser, 1953

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

The genus Paramesacanthion is characterized by:

• Outer labial and cephalic setae anterior to cephalic capsule, about the level of anterior end of mandibles.
• Subcephalic setae at middle of cephalic capsule.
• Mandibles arch-shaped and with claws, consisting of two pieces united by an anterior bar only.
• Teeth shorter than mandibles.
• Spicules in distal and proximal parts that articulate with each other. Males with or without supplement.
• Sexual dimorphism in the pilosity of the head.
• Marine nematodes.

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 Paramesacanthion

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:

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: June 12, 2026.