Cosmostrongylus		Contents		Rev 06/04/2025
Lungworms		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Cosmostrongylus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Angiostrongylidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

 Chromadorea

  Rhabditia

    Rhabditida

      Metarongyloidea

        Angiostrongylidae

Type species of the genus:  Cosmostrongylus conspectus Spratt, 1984

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Delicate bopdy structure with voluminous tegumental sheath often in folds.
• Cuticle thin, with fine longitudinal striae.
• Cephalic extremity with 3 small lips each bearing 2 minute, internolabial papillae. Four large submedian cephalic papillae present.
• Buccal cavity minute, walls weakly cuticularized.
• Eesophagus short, muscular, claviform.
• Parasites of lungs of macropodid marsupials.

Females:

•  Vulva near anus. Vagina short, terminating in muscular ovejector with thick cuticular lining.
• Didelphic, prodelphic.
• Ovoviviparous,

Males:

• Bursa reduced, divided into 2 pairs of lobes plus minute dorsal lobe. Rays of bursa ventrally curved, elongate. Ventroventral and lateroventral rays united only at common trunk; anterolateral, mediolateral and posterolateral rays (lateral trident) partially united and arising from common trunk; externodorsal ray separate; dorsal ray greatly reduced, represented by 2 small papillae possibly united at base and surrounded by small 3rd lobe of bursa.
• Spicules equal, similar, with sclerotized rods supporting membranous expansions distally.
•  Gubernaculum present, robust.
• Telamon present, heavily sclerotized

Ref: Spratt, 1984

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Distribution:

Described from Queensland, Australia.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Cosmostrongylus

Parasites of lungs of macropodid marsupials.

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: June 04, 2025.

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