Revised 01/04/22
Andrassy (2009) asserts that the root of Isolaimium is Isloaimi. Consequently, the correct names of the Order, Sub-order, Superfamily and Family are, respectively, Isolaimiida, Isolaimiina. Isolaimioidea and Isolaimiidae and not Isolaimida, Isolaimina. Isolaimoidea and Isolaimidae as used by several authors.
Andrassy (2009) considered that, based on morphology and anatomy, the Isolaimidae may be closely related to the Merrmithidae.
A family of soil nematodes probably feeding on bacteria.
long and very slender nematodes; 3-6 mm long
cuticle may have punctations, most obvious on tail in longitudinal and transverse rows
amphids apparently absent
stoma very long, tubular, triradiate, thickened walls anteriorly
females diovarial, amphidelphic, with ovaries sometimes reflexed
male testes paired
male spicules thick, gubemaculum small
tails in both sexes short, conoid to bluntly rounded with pointed tips
large, paired caudal papillae on male tail; small paired papillae on female tail
Mainly inhabitants of undisturbed sandy soils.
Probably bacterial-feeding but may also be carnivores as bristles of oligochaetes reported in intestine of some specimens.
Prior to 2018, only one genus. Isolaimium, was in the family Isolaimiidae. However, per Abolafia and Pena-Santiago, 2018, the Aulolaimidae and its genera were transferred to the order Isolaimida and family Isolaimiidae:
Abolafia, J and Pena-Santiago, R. 2018. Morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny of the enigmatic genus Aulolaimus de Man, 1880 (Nematoda, Aulolaimidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger 277: 101-115.
Andrassy, I. 2009. Free-living Nematodes of Hungary (Nematoda Errantia) Vol. 111. Humgarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. 508p.