Acrobeles/Picture: Hanny van Megen

Acrobeles

In the Netherlands, the genus Acrobeles is represented by three species. It are relatively small nematodes, never exceeding one mm in length, which are immediately recognized – even at a low magnification – by the characteristic outgrowths on their head. The genus can hardly be misidentified. Males are quite common. Acrobeles feeds on bacteria; the outgrowths on the anterior end might be used to scrape bacteria from sand grains, although the “probolae” cannot move independently. Another theory is that the probolae are used to filter water and that the particles are caught by the outgrowths. Acrobeles is restricted to sandy soils; in clayey soils with much smaller particles the probolae seem to be less functional.
Within the genus Acrobeles, some species occur with a split or double cuticula. For these species, Andrássy had to propose a new name; he proposed the genus Seleborca! Acrobeles ◄► Seleborca.

Acrobeles complexus/Picture: Hanny van Megen
Acrobeles complexus/Picture: Hanny van Megen

More pictures of Acrobeles:

Acrobeles: labial probolae
Acrobeles: labial probolae

Acrobeles: oral cavity, part of the oesophagus, labial probolae
Acrobeles: oral cavity, part of the oesophagus, labial probolae
Acrobeles: oral cavity, posterior part of the oesophagus, labial probolae
Acrobeles: oral cavity, posterior part of the oesophagus, labial probolae
Acrobeles: oesophagus
Acrobeles: oesophagus

More pictures of Acrobeles mariannae:

Acrobeles mariannae
Acrobeles mariannae
Acrobeles mariannae: cephalic probolae
Acrobeles mariannae: cephalic probolae
Acrobeles mariannae: labial probolae and posterior part of the oesophagusd
Acrobeles mariannae: labial probolae and posterior part of the oesophagusd
Acrobeles mariannae: probolae, excretion pore at 19th cuticle ring
Acrobeles mariannae: probolae, excretion pore at 19th cuticle ring
Acrobeles mariannae: two pairs preanal papillae
Acrobeles mariannae: two pairs preanal papillae
Acrobeles mariannae: spicula and tail region with papillae
Acrobeles mariannae: spicula and tail region with papillae

(Click on the pictures for an enlargement, ©Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Nematology/Pictures: Hanny van Megen)