Thoracostomopsis		Contents		Rev: 06/10/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Thoracostomopsis 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

           Thoracotomopsinae

Thoracostomopsis Ditlevsen, 1918

Type species of the genus: Thoracostomopsis barbatum Ditlevsen, 1918

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Mandibles  reduced and there are three elongate onchia which are wrapped around each other to form an axial spear-like structure.
• Cephalic capsule is strongly lobed with broad incisions.
• Cephalic setae of variable length
• Males with spicules that are long and slender or short and stout
• Gubernaculum present or absent .
• Tubular precloacal supplement usually present.
• Marine nematodes

Ref: Smol et al., 2014

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Distribution:

Free-living marine nematodes.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Thoracostomopsis

Probably predators 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:

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