Sclerostylus		Contents		Rev 05/21/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Sclerostylus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Leptonchidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Type species of the genus: Sclerostylus karri Goseco, Ferris & Ferris, 1981

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Body cylindroid.
• Cuticle and subcuticle with distinct transverse striations; subcuticle loose and irregular; refractive elements abundant.
• Lip region offset; labial disc present.
• Oral opening with thick sclerotization.; stoma long, heavily sclerotized; guiding ring distinct.
• Odontostyle long, slender. distinct.
• Odontophore conspicuously flanged.
• Esophagus slender, with short basal bulb. Inner lining of bulb thickened; cardia small, rounded.
• Tails of both sexes similar, short and rounded.

Sclerostylus is distinguished from Basirotyleptus by the flanged odontophore and by the distinct and heavier sclerotization of the odontostyle and stoma.

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Distribution:

Type species described from Panama.

Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Sclerostylus

Family Leptonchidae considered fungal feeders (Yeates et al., 1993).

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Yeates, G.W., T. Bongers, R. G. M. De Goede, D. W. Freckman, and S. S. Georgieva. 1993. Feeding habits in soil nematode families and genera—An outline for soil ecologists. Journal of Nematology 25:315-331.

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: May 21, 2025.