Tetrameridae
| Tetrameridae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| (unranked): | Bilateria |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Secernentea |
| Subclass: | Spiruria |
| Order: | Spirurida |
| Superfamily: | Habronematoidea |
| Family: | Tetrameridae |
| Genera | |
|
About 6, see text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Tetrameridea von Drasche, 1884 | |
Tetrameridae is a family of spirurian nematodes. It is the smallest of the large genera making up the bulk of the superfamily Habronematoidea. Like all nematodes, they have neither a circulatory nor a respiratory system. They are parasites, chiefly of birds and cetaceans.[1]
This family contains the largest known nematode: Placentonema gigantissima is several meters long and has been found in the placenta of the Sperm Whale (Physeter catodon).[2]
Systematics
The Tetrameridae number about half a dozen genera only, but some are rather speciose; the type genus Tetrameres contains a lot of species even by nematode standards. While it might be overlumped, as presently delimited about half of the more than 100 species of Tetrameridae are placed in it.[1]
Subfamily Crassicaudinae Yorke & Maplestone, 1926
- Crassicauda Leiper & Atkinson, 1914
- Placentonema Gubanov, 1951
Subfamily Geopetitiinae Chabaud, 1951
- Geopetitia Chabaud, 1951 [Diagnostic; French, Todd, Zachary & Meehan 1992
Subfamily Tetramerinae Travassos, 1914
- Microhadjelia Jogis, 1965
- Microtetrameres Travassos, 1915
- Tetrameres Creplin, 1846
Footnotes
References
- Gubanov, N.M. (1951): "Giant nematoda from the placenta of Cetacea; Placentonema gigantissima nov. gen., nov. sp.". Proc. USSR Acad. Sci. 77(6): 1123-1125 [in Russian].
- Hallan, Joel (ed.) (2007): Family Tetrameridae. Version of 2007-AUG-07. Retrieved 2008-NOV-05.