Diaphanocephalus		Contents		Rev: 08/06/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Diaphanocephalus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Diaphanocephalidae Menu		Feeding		References
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Classification

Phylum:  Nematoda
Class:    Chromadorea
Order:    Rhabditida 

Superfamily:  Strongyloidea

Family:  Diaphanocephalidae

Diaphanocephalus Diesing, 1851

Synonyms

Strongylus galeatus (Rudulphi, 1819) Diesing, 1851

A genus mainly described as parasites of the small intestine of South American lizards

Morphology and Anatomy:

• Peri-oral groove delimited by anterior and posterior ridges

• Two membranous cuticular processes at the base of the buccal cavity

• Lip-like cephalic protrusions,

• Denticles delimiting the inner margin of oral aperture

•  Cephalic papillae, amphids, deirids, phasmids in female

Females

• Amphidelphic
• Vulva simple, post-equatorial, guarded by protruded lips, at around 79%  of body length.
•  Ovejector anteriorly directed, with loose striated musculature and weakly developed sphincter connecting uterine branches.
• Uterus  not reaching esophageal and anal regions.

Males:

• Spicules not alate, without sheath, differing in length
• Bell-shaped copulatory bursa and a thick muscular dorsal bulge anterior to it
• Unpaired papilla on the membranous projection covering the genital cone in males.
• Gubernaculum simple, rod-shaped

Ref: Pereira et al., 2018; Lichtenfels, 2009

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

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Distribution:

Wide distribution in South America

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Economic Importance:

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Hosts:

Reptiles; mainly described as parasites of the small intestine of South American lizards - not very host specific.

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Diaphanocephalus

Intestinal parasites of lizards

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Life Cycle:

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Damage:

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Management:

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References:

Lichtenfels, J.R.  2009. Strongylida: Diaphanocephaloidea and Ancylostomatoidea. in Anderson, Cahabaud and Wilmott. (eds) Keys to the Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates. CABI

Pereira, F.B., Ferreira, V.L., Tomas, W.M., Elisei, C., Palva, F., Tavares, L.E.R. 2018. Diaphanocephalus galeatus (Nematoda: Diaphanocephalidae), a poorly known parasite of lizards: redescription, first genetic characterization and a revision of its congeners from Brazil. J. Helminthology 93:629-635.

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