Elaphonema

Elaphonema	Contents	Rev 12/06/2022
	Classification	Biology and Ecology
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Elaphonema menu		Ecosystem Functions and Services
	Distribution	Management
Return to Elaphonematidae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

      Chromadorea
        Rhabditida
         Rhabditia

Cephaloboidea
Elaphonematidae

Elaphonema Heyns, 1962

The genus Elaphonema, and the type species E. mirabile were described by Dr. Heyns as part of his PhD thesis research under the direction of Gerald Thorne at the University of Wisconsin. I aspeculate (but do not know) that the genus name is derived from the lateral fin-like structures which may have remindedHeyns of the ears of an elephant from his nartive South Africa.

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Small nematodes, 0.3 to 0.7 mm
Cuticle with coarse striations, 2-2.5 mu wide and fine longitudinal lines
Labial region bilaterally symmetrical and directed ventrally. Bordered by lateral fin-like structures.
Lips large, leaf-like, widely separated
Three labial probolae, not extending beyond lips
Slit-like amphid apertures.
Stoma short or long, consisting os a series of elements.
Esophagus with corpus, isthmus and posterior bulb and distinct cardia.
Female monodelphic prodelphic; ovary reflexed beyond.
Vulva a tyransverse slit.
Anterior lip of anus extende over as a flap.
Male with cephaloboid spicules; no bursa.
Both sexes about equally abundant.
Tail short vulva.