Philometroides		Contents		Rev: 10/14/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Philometroides Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Philometridae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

   Rhabditida

Spirurina

              Dracunculoidea

               Philometridae

Philometroides Moravec, Jassim, & Al-Salim, 2012.

Type species of the genus: Philometroides seriolae (Ishii, 1931) Yamaguti, 1935

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

From description of Philometroides acanthopagri:

• Body of fixed specimens yellowish, filiform, 48-71 mm long and 694-979 um wide
• Entire body with sparsely distributed small cuticular bosses 9-12 high on surface; bosses rare on anterior and posterior body parts.
• Cephalic end rounded, cephalic papillae indistinct in lateral view.
• Oral aperture circular, relatively small. Bottom of mouth formed by three flat esophageal lobes.
• Cephalic papillae small, arranged in two circles: external circle formed by four pairs of submedian papillae, internal circle consisting of six papillae (four submedian and two lateral) surrounding oral aperture.
• Lateral amphids indistinct.
• Esophagus muscular, inflated at anterior end to form distinct bulb, 1.59-1.74 mm long, representing 3% of body length; esophageal bulb transversely oval, 95 um and 136 um wide.
• Dorsal esophageal gland well developed, starting at level of nerve ring and extending posteriorly to end of esophagus; 
• Small ventriculus 27 um long and 82 um wide, opening into intestine through valve.
• Nerve ring 231um  from anterior extremity.
• Intestine light-colored, straight, displaced laterally by uterus and extending posteriorly nearly to posterior extremity;
• Posterior end of body rounded, without any caudal projections. Ovaries long, situated near anterior and posterior body ends. Uterus occupying major part of body, filled with numerous larvae and eggs.
• Larvae 468-510 long, maximum width 18-21; esophagus 141-162 long, representing 30-33% of body length; tail 23-24% of body length

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Distribution:

Most species of the genus have been described from freshwater fish, only about 30% from marine and brackish water hosts. Type species described from musculature of Yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus. in Arabian Gulf off coast of Iraq.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Philometroides

Parasites of marine fish.

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

All philometrids are ovoviviparous and after fertilization, females become very large as first stage larvae fill their uteri. In fully gravid females the vulva and anus atrophy in most philometrid genera. The first stage juveniles are dispersed when the female body bursts in contact with water.

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Moravec F., Jassim A.A.R., Al-Salim N.K. 2012: Philometroides acanthopagri sp. nov., a new philometrid (Nematoda, Philometridae) from the musculature of Acanthopagrus latus (Sparidae) from marine waters of Iraq. Acta Parasitol. 57: 372-377.

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: October 14, 2025.