Xiphinemella		Contents		Rev 04/04/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Xiphinemella Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Leptonchidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Synonyms

Botalium Heyns, 1963

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Cuticle consisting of an irregularly outlined inner layer with refractive elements, and smooth outer layer
•  lip region with a distinct labial disc,
• odontostyle long and attenuated,
•  odontophore with prominent basal flanges

Ref:  Alvarez-Ortega et al., 2021

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Distribution:

Rather rare genus that has been reported in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America (Alvarez-Ortega et al, 2021).

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Feeding:

 Xiphinemella species have been reported associated with forest trees and herbaceous plants such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and others (De Bruin and Heyns, 1991). However, there are no reports on the feeding habits of these species. So far, the species X. esseri has been found only in Florida, where it is often associated with oak trees such as live oak and Spanish oak or Southern red oak (Quercus falcata Michx.). Many longidorids such as Longidorus longicaudatus (Siddiqi, 1962), species of Xiphinema americanum group and Xiphinema setariae (Luc, 1958) feed on oak roots and are sometimes associated with X. esseri. It is possible that  X. esseri may have plant parasitic habits as suggested by Chitwood (1957) but parasitism of this and other species of the genus has not been scientifically demonstrated. (Alvarez-Ortega et al., 2021)

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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:

Alvarez-Ortego, S., Subbotin, S.A., Inserra, R.N. 2021.Morphological and molecular characterization of Xiphinemella esseri Chitwood, 1957 (Dorylaimida: Leptonchidae) from Florida, with the first molecular study of the genus. J. Nematologyn 53: | DOI: 10.21307/jofnem-2021-032

De Bruin, S. and Heyns, J. 1991. A review of the nematode genus Xiphinemella Loos, 1950. Entomology Memoir - Department of Agricultural Development, South Africa No 83, 48.p.

Siddiqi, M.R. 1966. Studies on the Genera Calolaimus Timm, Galophinema Siddiqi, Qudsianema Jairajpuri, and Utahnema Thorne (Nematoda: Leptoncllidae), with Description of U. gracile n. sp. Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Washington. 33:157-162.

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: April 04, 2025.