Philometra terapontis

Philometra terapontis	Contents	Rev 10/30/2023
	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
	Go to Nemaplex Main Menu	Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Rhabditida: Spirurina
Dracunculoidea
Philometridae

Philometra terapontis Moravec, Gopalakrishnan, Rajkumar, Saravanakumar & Kaliyamoorthy, 2011

With general characteristics of the genus Philometra. Philometra terapontis differs from most other gonad-infecting Philometra spp. in the length of the spicules (105-114 um), having a gubernaculum with dorsal, lamella-like structures and a distinct protuberance on its distal end, and a U-shaped, dorsally uninterrupted caudal mound in the male.



Males: Filiform nematodes around 3mm long. Cuticle smooth. Cephalic end rounded Oral aperture circular, surrounded by 14 minute cephalic papillae arranged in 2 circles: Small lateral amphids just posterior to lateral papillae of internal circle Esophagus 11-17 (11)% of body length, somewhat inflated at anterior end; posterior region overlapped by well-developed esophageal gland Excretory pore 207 um from ante- rior end. Testis reaches anteriorly to about eso- phago-intestinal junction. Posterior end of body blunt, with broad, U-shaped mound situated dorsally and laterally 2 pairs of adanal and 2 pairs of very flat, indistinct, postanal caudal papillae; all papillae located near cloacal aperture. Spicules slender, needle-like, equal or slightly subequal in length, with somewhat expanded proximal and sharply pointed distal tips length of spicules 3.8% of body length. Gubernaculum narrow, Spicules and gubernaculum well sclerotised	Female: Body length average 192 mm; Cephalic papillae very small, indistinct when viewed laterally. Oral aperture large, oval, surrounded by 4 pairs of submedian cephalic papillae of external circle and 6 single papillae Esophagus average 3.6% of body length; bulb Esophageal gland well developed, opens into oesophagus just posterior to nerve-ring, with large cell nucleus in middle. Esophagus opens into intestine through distinct valve Vulva and anus atrophied. Ovaries relatively short, thick, reflexed, situated near ends of body. Uterus occupies most space within body, filled with numerous larvae. Ref: Moravec et al., 2011
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

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Distribution:

Described as parasitizing the the ovary of the jarbua terapon Terapon jarbua (Forsskal) (Terapontidae, Perciformes) from the Bay of Bengal off the eastern coast of India (Moravec et al., 2011).

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Feeding:

Parasite of fish gonad.

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Biology and Ecology:

In the Bay of Bengal, 98% of larger female fish were infected at a mean intensity of 6 nematodes per fish (Moravec et al., 2011).

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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.

Moravec, F., Gopalakrishnan, A., Rajkumar, M., Saravanakumar, A., Kaliyamoorthy, S., 2011.

Moravec, F., Gopalakrishnan, A., Rajkumar, M., Saravanakumar, A., Kaliyamoorthy, S., 2011. A new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the marine fish Terapon jarbua (ForsskaÃ‹Å¡l) (Terapontidae) off the eastern coast of India. Syst. Parasitol. 80:23-33.