Camallanus cotti		Contents		Rev 06/02/2022
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Camallanus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Camallanidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Medium-sized fusiform worms; translucent red color.
• .Cuticle annulated.
• Cephalic papillae arranged in 2 concentric rings of 4 papillae each,
• Buccal capsule laterally compressed, composed of 3 parts (2 valves and a basal ring). Valves marked internally by longitudinal ridges, most numerous near anterior margin of buccal capsule and supported by dorsoventral tridents,
• Lateral hypodermal cords prominent, extending posteriorly from middle of buccal capsule, running most of length of body.
• Excretory pore slightly posterior to nerve ring.
• Cervical papillae (anterior deirids) posterior to excretory pore, anterior to junction of muscular, glandular esophagus.
• Esophagus long, slender; anterior muscular portion clearly divided from posterior glandular portion, glandular portion generally longer. Glandular esophagus projecting slightly into intestine in valvelike formation.
• Tail simple, without mucrons.

Female:

• Length 3.6-9.6 mm, max width 137-440 um
• Muscular esophagus 391-578 um long, glandular esophagus 452-781 um long,
• Vulva at 56% of body length. Vagina muscular, posteriorly directed from vulva. V
• Amphidelphic, with eggs and larvae, in utero. Greatest anterior position of uterus near posterior margin of nerve ring.
• Anus 587-1,564 um from posterior extremity.
• Uterus extends into tail, occasionally filled with larvae or eggs. P

Male:

• Length 2.5-4.5 mm.
• Esophagus similar to female.
• Testis with anterior flexure.
• Cloaca 75-128 um from posterior extremity.
• Caudal alae poorly developed,
•  Caudal papillae 14; 7 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 5 postcloacal,
• Spicules similar, unequal, simple, gradually tapering to a point.
• Gu-bernaculum absent.
• Tail flexed ventrally, with prominent lateral muscle bands

Ref Rigby et al., 1997

	Anterior of female of Camallanus cotti, ventral view, showing sclerotized ridges of buccal capsule and muscular and gandular regions of esophagus. photo from Menezes et al (2006).

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Distribution:

Type locality Lake Biwa, Japan. Distributed throughout the world, probably with the distribution of aquarium fish.

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Feeding:

Intestinal parasite of freshwater fish, expecialluy guppies, Poecilia reticulata.  Feeding causes intestinal lesions and abdominal swelling and erosion of the mucosa of the rectum; there may be reddish-colored nematodes protruding from the anus of the fish (Menezes et al., 2006).

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Biology and Ecology:

Have low host specificity so easily transferred to native fish whann disoerswed with aquarium specimens.

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Life Cycle:

Ecophysiological Parameters:

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Menezes, R.C., Tortelly, R., Tortelly-Neto, R., Noronha, D., Pinto, R.M. 2006. Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927 (Nematoda, Camallanoidea) in ornamental aquarium fishes: pathology and morphology. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 101:683-687.

Rigby, M.C., Font, W.F., Deardorff, T.L. 1997. Redescription of Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927 (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from Hawaii. J. Parasitology 83:1161-1164.

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 02, 2022.