Paramicrolaimidae Lorenzen, 1981

(transfer to a new order, Microlaimida, proposed per Leduc et al., 2017)

A relatively rare family of free-living marine nematodes.

• Cuticle striated from anterior edge of amphids; no longitudinal bars or cordons.

• Short somatic setae present. Lip pairs usually fused into three, or in some cases two, lobes. Six inner labial papillae present; six outer labial setae located in a separate circle and slightly anterior to the four cephalic setae; cephalic setae located anterior to the amphid. Four subcephalic setae sometimes present at level of amphids.

• Amphidial fovea spiral with less than 2 turns.

• Buccal cavity narrow, tubular, asymmetrical; dorsal tooth present and only protruding slightly into buccal cavity, sometimes with lateral pointed projections, always connected to a dorsal gland; smaller ventrosublateral teeth also present.

• Pharynx muscular, cylindrical, with posterior bulb; muscular cardia present.

• Secretory-excretory system present; renette cell elongated, located at level of or posterior to cardia; excretory ampulla and duct located slightly posterior to level of nerve ring.

• Female reproductive system didelphic-amphidelphic with equally developed branches, ovaries reflexed antidromously.

• Male reproductive system diorchic with two outstretched testes. Spicules symmetrical, arcuate; gubernaculum present. Row of midventral precloacal supplements consisting of cup-shaped structures with spout-like structures pointing posteriorly.

• Three caudal glands and spinneret present.

• Inhabitants of marine sediments, usually coastal, but individuals rhave been reported from the continental slope of New Zealand in the southwest Pacific Ocean.at depths of 374-1513 meters.

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• Based on unique morphological and molecular, Leduc et al (2017) proposed a new order, Microlaimida, to accommodate the Paramicrolaimidae, Microlaimidae and Aponchiidae..

Ref: Leduc et al (2017).         

References

Leduc, D., Verdon, V., Zhao, Z.Q. 2017. Phylogenetic position of the Paramicrolaimidae, description of a new Paramicrolaimus species and erection of a new order to accommodate the Microlaimoidea (Nematoda: Chromadorea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 20, 1–18.

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