Phylum Nematoda  

                                          Rev 10/02/2008

 

Classes, Sub-classes and Orders

In a classical morphology-based classification system of the Nematoda there are five sub-classes and nineteen orders; those that contain plant-feeding genera are marked with an asterisk (*).

Nematoda
 
Adenophorea Secernentea
   
Enoplia Chromadoria Rhabditia Spiruria Diplogasteria
         
  Enoplida   Araeolaimida   Rhabditida   Spirurida   Diplogasterida
  Isolaimida   Chromadorida   Strongylida   Ascarida   *Tylenchida
  Mononchida   Desmoscolecida       Camallanida    
  *Dorylaimida   Desmodorida       Drilonematida    
  Stichosomida   Monhysterida            
  *Triplonchida                

   Key to the Orders of Nematoda
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Alternative and Emerging Classifications

Molecular Phylogeny Menu

Nematoda
 
Enoplea Chromadorea
Enoplia Dorylaimia Chromadoria
 
  Enoplida   Dorylaimida   Rhabditida
  Triplonchida   Mermithida   Plectida
Mononchida Araeolaimida
      Dioctophymatida   Monhysterida
      Trichinellida   Desmodorida
      Isolaimida   Desmoscolecida
      Muspiceida   Chromadorida
      Marimermithida    
 

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Comparison of Morphology- and DNA-based Classifications:

Classification Based on Classical Morphology

Adenophorea Secernentea
Enoplia Chromadoria Rhabditia Spiruria Diplogasteria
  Enoplida   Araeolaimida   Rhabditida   Spirurida   Diplogasterida
  Isolaimida   Chromadorida   Strongylida   Ascarida   *Tylenchida
  Mononchida   Desmoscolecida       Camallanida    
  *Dorylaimida   Desmodorida       Drilonematida    
  Stichosomida   Monhysterida            
  *Triplonchida                

 

Classification Based on SSU rDNA

Enoplea Chromadorea
Enoplia Dorylaimia Chromadoria
  Enoplida   Dorylaimida   Rhabditida
  Triplonchida   Mermithida   Plectida
Mononchida Araeolaimida
      Dioctophymatida   Monhysterida
Trichinellida Desmodorida
      Isolaimida   Desmoscolecida
      Muspiceida   Chromadorida
      Marimermithida    
           

 

Morphological Basis SSU rDNA Basis The classification of organisms above the genus and species levels is not governed by the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature.  In essence, higher classification schemes represent expert opinion based on available evidence.  Several classification systems have been proposed for nematodes.  New opinions on the relationships among taxa are emerging from molecular data.  At the present time, we will use for Nemaplex a widely accepted scheme based on nematode morphological and anatomical characters.
Classes Classes
Sub-classes Sub-classes
Orders Orders
Comparison

References

Key to the Orders of Nematoda
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Other classification categories:

  1. mode of parasitism

  2. feeding habits

  3. habitats and distribution

 

Name endings of different levels of taxonomic organization:

  1. classes (ea)
  2. sub-classes (ia)
  3. orders (ida)
  4. sub-orders (ina)
  5. superfamilies (oidea)
  6. families (idae)
  7. sub-families (inae)

 

Classes

The Phylum Nematoda consists of two classes:
   Class Secernentea
                          1. pore-like or slit-like amphid apertures - labial.
                          2. deirids present in some near nerve ring.    
                          3. phasmids present, generally posterior.
                          4. excretory system tubular.
                          5. cuticle 2 to 4 layers, striated; lateral field present.
                          6. esophagus varies but has 3 esophageal glands.    
                          7. male generally with 1 testis.
                          8. caudal alae common.
                          9. sensory papillae cephalic only, although may be caudal papillae in males.                        
                         10. almost exclusively terrestrial, rarely freshwater or marine.
   Class Adenophorea
                          1. amphids post-labial, variable shape, pore-like to elaborate.
                          2. deirids not seen.
                          3. phasmids generally absent.
                          4. hypodermal glands present (excretory?)
                          5. simple non-tubular excretory system when present. 
                          6. male generally has 2 testes. 
                          7. caudal alae rare.                       
                          8. sensory papillae in cephalic region and along body.
                          9. marine, freshwater, terrestrial.

References:

Maggenti, A.R. 1981.  General Nematology.  Springer Verlag, New York.

De Ley, P. and Blaxter. M. 2002.  Systematic position and phylogeny.  In:  D. L. Lee (ed) The Biology of Nematodes.

De Ley, P. and Blaxter. M. 2004.  A new system for Nematoda: combining morphological characters with molecular trees, and translating …
clades into ranks and taxa Nematology Monographs and Perspectives, 2004: 633-653.

De Ley, P., Decraemer, W. & Eyualem-Abebe. (2006). Introduction, summary of present knowledge and research addressing the ecology and taxonomy of freshwater nematodes. Pp 3-30 in Eyualem-Abebe, Andrássy, I. & Traunspurger, W. (Eds). Freshwater Nematodes, Ecology and Taxonomy. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.

 

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