Elaphonema

Contents

Rev 01/05/2026

  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 speculate (but do not know)  that the genus name is derived from the lateral fin-like structures which may have reminded Heyns of the ears of an elephant from his native 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 extendes over as a flap.
  • Male with cephaloboid spicules; no bursa.
  • Both sexes about equally abundant.
  • Tail short vulva.

Ref: Heyns, 1962; Andrassy, 2005.
  Elaphonema mirabile. From Heyns, 1962

 

 

Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
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Distribution:

Speciems of E. mirabile were collected in a variety of locations in South Africa, expecially in sandy soils.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Elaphonema

Bacterial 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:

Andrassy, I. 2005. Free-livinmg nematodes of Hungary I. Hungarian Natural History Museum.

De Smidt, A., Rashidifard, M., Girgan, C., Jansen van Rensberg, C. 2025. Redescription of Elaphonema messinae Van den Berg, Swart & Heyns, 1984 and E. mirabile Heyns, 1962 (Nematoda: Rhabditida) from South Africa, including the first molecular data for the genus. Nematology 27: 981-1000

Heyns, J. 1962. Elaphonema mirabile n. gen., n. sp. (Rhabditida), a remarkable new nematode from South Africa. Proc. Helm. Soc. Wash. 29:128-130

 

 
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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: January 05, 2026 .