Metaporcelaimus

Metaporcelaimus	Contents	Rev 06/06/2023
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Metaporcelaimus Menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Aporcelaimidae Menu	Feeding	References
	Go to Nemaplex Main Menu	Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Enoplea

Dorylaimia
Dorylaimida

Aporcelaimidae

Metaporcelaimus Lordello, 1965

Type species of the genus: Metaporcelaimus mombucae Lordello, 1965

Metaporcelaimus was erected by Lordello (1965), in his doctoral thesis, as a member of the family Dorylaimidae. Several authors overlooked the existence of the genus when reviewing and revising the Aporcelaimidae even though it later appeared in a, perhaps somewhat obscure, journal article (Lordello (1967) (see Alvarez-Ortega et al. (2013) for details). Andrassy (1976) recognized the genus as part of the Aporcelaimidae but as a junior synonym of Aporcelaimellus. Later he re-established the genus Metaporcelaimus (Andrassy, 2001).

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Body length 1.0 -4.1 mm; slender.to very slender.
Cuticle of two layers.
Labial region offset from body contour by distinct constriction.
Odontostyle short and thick; aperture typically 2/3 of odontostyle length.
Odontophore rod-like; guiding ring simple.
Basal expansion of esophagus about half of total length.
Female gonad usually diovarial, amphidelphic; vulva transverse, V=47-61.
Vaginal canal a simple tube, sclorotized pars refringens vaginae usually present.
Tail similar in both sexes; short, conoid rounded to hemispherical, always longer than anal body diam (abd).
Ventromedian supplements in male 2-16, widely separated.

Metaporcelaimus generally resembles Aporcelaimellus but differs mainly in the morphology of the tail region and sometimews in the body width.. In Metaporcelaimus the ratio a (length/width) is usually > 30, that is, most of these species are quite slender. In Aporcalaimellus the ratio a is more variable, ranging from 19 to 49; that is, some species are slender, others quite robust. In Metaporcelaimus the tail is conoid with a rounded tip and longer than the abd; it is shorter and more rounded in Aporcelaimellus. It is also similar to Aporcella except that it is more slender and the pars refringens vaginae is usually present.

Ref: Alvarez-Ortega et al., 2013

Female:

Males:

Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:

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Distribution:

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Feeding:

Probably similar to Aporcelaimellus: predators and omnivores (Yeates et al., 1993)

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Biology and Ecology:

Most species have been reported from undisturbed soils in natural areas,often in the rhizosphere of trees.

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Life Cycle:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Predation and regulation of opportunistic species.

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Management:

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References:

Alvarez-Ortega, S., Subbotin, S., Pena-Santiago, R. 2013. Morphological and molecular characterisation of California species of Metaporcelaimus Lordello, 1965 (Dorylaimida, Aporcelaimidae), with a new concept of the genus. Nematology 15:251-278.

Andrassy, I. 1976. Evolution as a basis for the systemization of nematodes. Pitman Publishing, London UK.

Andrassy, I. 2001. A taxonomic review of the genera Aporcelaimus Thorne & Swanger, 1936 and Metaporcelaimus Lordello, 1965 (Nematoda: Aporcelaimidae) Opuscula Zoologica Budapestinensis 33:7-47.

Lordello, L.G.E. 1965. Contribucao parao conhecimiento dos nematoides brasileiros da familia Dorylaimidae. Tese Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz' Piracicaba, Brazil.

Lordello, L.G.E. 1967. Sobre um genero e tres especies da nematoides de familia Dorylaimidae. Anais da EscolaSuperior de Agricultura de Queiroz 14:401-409.

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Metaporcelaimus

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris. Revised: June 06, 2023.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 06, 2023.