Epsilonema		Contents		Rev 08/11/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Epsilonema Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Epsilonematidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

 Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

   Desmodorida

Desmodorina

             Desmodoroidea

              Epsilonematidae

     Epsilonematinae

   

Epsilonema Steiner, 1927

Type species of the genus: Epsilonema cygnoides (Metschnikoff 1867) Gerlach & Riemann, 1973

Synonyms:

Rhabdogaster Metschnikoff, 1867

Prochaetosoma Baylis & Daubney, 1926

Epsilonematina Johnston, 1938

Epsilonoides Steiner, 1931

 Notochaetosoma Irwin Smith, 1918

Back to Top

Morphology and Anatomy:

• Body Ɛ-shaped with widest regions at level of pharynx and reproductive system.
•  Amphideal fovea spiral, cryptospiral or almost circular with possible sexual dimorphism in size.
• Ambulatory setae slender, straight or bent, arranged in four to five longitudinal rows in anterior half of posterior body region; pre- and postvulvar in females, with only zero, one or two pairs of setae posterior to vulva
• Supporting setae present.
• Rostrum with eight subcephalic setae, varying in some species.

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. 

Ref: Tchesunov, 2013

Back to Top

Distribution:

Marine nematodes, frequently found with supralittoral or intertidal matine fauna, but also in the deep sea.  Coral fragments are an ideal substrate.

Back to Top

Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Epsilonema

Back to Top

Biology and Ecology:

Back to Top

Life Cycle:

Back to Top

Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Back to Top

Management:

Back to Top

References:

Decraemer, W. and N. Gourbault. 1987. Marine nematodes from Guadeloupe and other Caribbean Islands. VII. The genus Epsilonema (Epsilonematidae). Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belg. Biol. 57:57-77.

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.

Tchesunov. A.V. 2013. 7.13 Order Desmodorida de Coninck, 1965 In Schmidt-Rheas and de Gruyter, W. Handbook of Zoology.Gastrocticha, Cycloneuralia, Gnatifera. Volume 2: Nematoda.

Back to Top

For more information about nematodes, Go to Nemaplex Main Menu.

Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: August 11, 2026.