Philometra cyanopodi

 

Contents

 

Rev 10/23/2022

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Philometra Menu   Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Philometridae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
  Chromadoria
   Rhabditida
Spirurina
              Dracunculoidea
               Philometridae

  Philometra cyanopodi Moravec & Justine, 2008

 

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Morphology and Anatomy:

   
   

Males:  

  • Body filiform, whitish, 2.72-3.59 mm long.
  •  Cuticle smooth.
  • Head rounded. Oral aperture very small, almost circular, surrounded by small ring of elevated tissue.
  • Cephalic papillae small, in two circles; outer circle of four submedian pairs, inner circle of four single submedian papillae and a pair of lateral papillae.
  •  Amphids rather small.
  • Esophagus with slight inflation at anterior end; posterior portion of esophagus with well-developed, long esophageal gland with large cell nucleus at middle.
  •  Posterior end of body blunt, with broad, U-shaped, lobular mound and with one pair of preanal and two pairs of postanal very flat, hardly visible caudal papillae.
  •  Spicules brownish, slender, needle-like, almost equally long with somewhat expanded proximal and sharply pointed distal tips; length of spicules 6% of body length.
  •  Gubernaculum narrow, with its proximal third dorsally bent;
  • Spicules and gubernaculum well sclerotized

Female:  

  • Body red-colored in live specimens and yellowish in smaller; posterior part of body narrower than anterior.
  • Cuticle appears  smooth under LM, but SEM shows it is densely transversely striated
  •  Oral aperture large, almost circular, surrounded by minute cephalic papillae arranged in two circles and slightly outlined lateral amphids; internal circle of papillae of four submedian and two lateral single papillae,  external circle of four submedian pairs of papillae of equal size and shape
  • Eesophagus with anterior bulbous inflation
  •  Ventriculus present,
  • Eesophagus opening into intestine through distinct valve.
  •  Intestine dark brown, ending blindly, its posterior end attached by long ligament ventrally to body wall near caudal end;
  • Vulva and anus absent.
  • Ovaries relatively short, thick, reflexed. Uterus of larger specimens occupying most of body volume; filled with numerous spherical eggs .
  • Caudal end rounded, with two small, lateral papilla-like projections .

Ref: Moravecand Justine, 2008

 

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

 

 
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Distribution:

Described as parasitizing the gonads of the speckled blue grouper fish (Epinephelus cyanopodus) off the coast of New Caledonia in the South Pacific Ocean (Moravec and Justine, 2008).

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Feeding:

 Parasite of fish gonad.    

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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 nhen the female body bursts in contact with water.(Moravec and de Buron, 2013).

 

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

 

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Management:

 

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References:

Moravec, F. and Justine, J-L. 2008. Some philometrid nematodes (Philometridae), including four new species of Philometra, from marine fishes off New Caledonia. Acta Parasitologica 53:369-381.

Moravec, F., de Buron, I.  2013. A synthesis of our current knowledge of philometrid nematodes, a  group of increasingly important  ish  parasites. Folia Parasitologica 60:81-101.

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: October 23, 2022.