Family Myenchidae

                                 Revised 01/19/26

Classification:

Phylum Nematoda

  Class Chromadorea

    Subclass Chromadoria

Order Rhabditida

Suborder Tyenchina

Superfamily Myenchoidea

           Myenchidae Pereira, 1931

    Synonyms:

A small poorly-known family of parasites of the coelomic cavity of leeches.

Stylet-bearing nematodes with the stylet used for penetrating the haemocoel and allow penetration of the tissues of the leech hosts; also allow the nematodes to enter and leave the tissues of the leech hosts.

Characteristics:

• Cephalic region rounded; Cephalic framework with weak to medium sclerotization.
•  Labial region continuous or slightly offset, never bulbous.
• Amphid apertures often visible on the sub-median lip sectors.
• Lateral field with 3 to 5 incisures.
• Stylet short to moderate length, with cone about as long as shaft. 
• Corpus not enlarged and metacorpus well developed.
• Esophageal glands in a bulb, not overlapping intestine.
• Females diovaial, amphidelphic, except Trophurus which in monovarial).
• Female tail rounded to conoid.
• Male tail conoid; bursa enveloping tail tip.

    Go To Dictionary of Terminology 

References

Maggenti, A.R. 1981. Nemata: Higher classification. In W.R. Nickle (ed) Manual of Agricultural Nematology CRC Press

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