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

Cryptenoplus  Riemann, 1966

Type species of the genus: Cryptenoplus gerlachi Riemann, 1966

    Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

The genus Cryptenoplus is characterized by:

• Three high, striated lips; mandibles consisting of two strongly sclerotized lateral rods with claws anteriorly and a weakly sclerotized part situated interlabial.
• Teeth modified into narrow arch-shaped, tooth-like structures that rise above the mandibles.
• Subcephalic setae present.
• 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 Cryptenoplus

Predator species 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

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