Polkepsilonema

  

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Rev 03/18/2025

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle

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 Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Epsilonematidae Menu Feeding  References
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 Classification:

Chromadorea
  Chromadoria
   Desmodorida
Desmodorina
             Desmodoroidea
              Epsilonematidae
     Epsilonematinae

  •                     Polkepsilonema Verschelde & Vincx, 1993

    •   Type species of the genus:    Polkepsilonema mombasae Verschelde & Vincx, 1993

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    Morphology and Anatomy:

    Epsilonematidae are characterized by having an ε-shaped body (hence the name) and setae used in looper locomotion on the ventral surface of the body.  The condition of separate outlets for the three caudal glands is common among the genera of this family.  

    Polkepsilonema differs from other Epsilonematidae genera by its large number of subcephalic setae (fourteen to eighteen compared to eight in e.g. Bathyepsilonema). It can be distinguished from Pternepsilonema by the location of subcephalic setae (at posterior edge in Pternepsilonema) and by shape of ambulatory setae (bent setae with single distal tip in Polkepsilonema, straight setae with double tip in Pternepsilonema);

    • Body epsilon-shaped. .
    • Ambulatory setae apparently in seven rows: external subventral row on each side of body with a field of ambulatory setae in between.
    •  Ambulatory setae slender, bisinuous, with slightly bent distal tip.
    • Head capsule with four cephalic and fourteen to eighteen subcephalic setae; eight to ten of them situated on anterior half of rostrum, in front of amphidial fovea.
    • Large amphids which may show sexual dimorphism.

    Males:

    • Maximum male body diameter 1.5 to 1.6 times the minimum body diameter

    Females:

    • Maximum female body diameter 2 times the minimum body diameter

    Ref: Verschelde and Vincx, 1993
    Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
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    Distribution:

    Type species described from marine tidal regions in Kenya.

     

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    Feeding:

     

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    Biology and Ecology:
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    Life Cycle:

    For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
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    Ecosystem Functions and Services:

     

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    Management:

     

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    References:

     

    Lorenzen, S. 1973. Die Familie Epsilonematidae (Nematodes). Mikrofauna Meeresboden, 25: 1-86.

     Raes, M., W. Decraemer and A. Vanreusel. 2006. Postembryonic morphology in Epsilonematidae, with a discussion on the variability of caudal gland outlets.  J. Nematology 38:97-118.

    Steiner, G. 1927. Epsilonematidae, a new nemic family. The Journal of Parasitology, 14,:65-66.

    Verschelde, D. and Vincx, M. 1993. Polkepsilonema mombasae gen. et sp.n. and Pternepsilonema servaesae gen. et sp.n. (Nematoda, Epsilonematidae) from East African coasts . Hydrobiologia 257:129-142

     

     

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    Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
    Revised: March 18, 2025.