Cosmocercoides		Contents		Rev: 08/23/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Cosmocercoides Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Cosmocercidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea

Chromadoria

Rhabditida

Spirurina

Cosmocercoidea

                         Cosmocercidae

Cosmocercinae

                          Cosmocercoides Wilkie, 1930

Type species of the genus: Cosmocercoides pulcher Wilkie, 1930

    Synonyms:

Trionchonerma Kreis, 1932
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Esophagus differentiated with short pharyngeal region; elongate isthmus

• Cuticle finely striated

• Tail conical. 

• Intestinal parasites of amphibians, rarely reptiles

Ref: Moravec et al., 2004; Andeson et al., 1978

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Distribution:

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Cosmocercoides

Mainly parasites of amphibians, sometimes reptiles, occasionally snails and slugs

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

Unknown for many species, but in C. variabilis, the female lay eggs which develop into first stage larvae in the external environment, and molt twice to the infective third stage larvae, before they infect the host via skin penetration.  Habitat and mobility (water, wet surfaces) used by the amphibian host in the search for prey and parental care of the foam nest, favor the penetration of the infective stages (Draghi et al.,  2020).

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: August 23, 2025.