Ixonema		Contents		Rev 08/24/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Ixonema Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Microlaimidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

 Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

   Microlaimida

Microlaimina

             Microlaimoidea

   Microlaimidae

               Ixonema Lorenzen, 1971

    Type species of the genus: Ixonema sordidum Lorenzen, 1971

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Cuticle smooth; may be covered with sediment particles.
• Anterior end narrowed and elongated.
• Amphid at a distance from the anterior end with corpus gelatum protruding from the amphideal aperture.
• Buccal cavity small, with three minute teeth.

Males:

• Monorchic
• Small papilloid supplements.
• Each caudal gland with its own outlet on tail tip
• Gubernaculum without apophyses.

Females:

• .

Ref: Tchesunov, 2013

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Distribution:

Free-living marine nematodes; reported from sublittoral coarsae sand.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Ixonema

  Probably epistrate feeders on microbes and perhaps sediments containing algae and protozoa.

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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:

Lorenzen, S. 1971.  Ixonema sordidum gen. n., sp. n. (microlaimidae, Nematoda) aus sublitoralem Grobsand bei Helgoland. Marine Biology 8: 267-269

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

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

Revised by Howard Ferris.
Revised: August 24, 2026.