Aporcelaimellus

The dorylaimid genus Aporcelaimellus Heyns, 1965 belongs to the family Aporcelaimidae (Heyns, 1965), it’s members are mostly predaceous on Oligochaeta worms and nematodes. They have a robust medium sized body with an offset labial region, a short odontostyle with large aperature, a short rounded tail and two distinct culticle layers of different refraction. Males are rare. Aporcelaimellus belongs to one of the most common soil nematodes. Particularly the species A. obtusicaudatus (Bastian, 1865) Altherr, 1968 is considered as the most common terrestrial nematode with a world-wide distribution (Andrássy, 2009).    

More pictures of Aporcelaimellus:

A. obtusicaudatus: anterior body
A. obtusicaudatus: anterior body

A. obtusicaudatus: posterior body
A. obtusicaudatus: posterior body

 A. obtusicaudatus: anterior body (pharynx visible)
A. obtusicaudatus: anterior body (pharynx visible)

A. obtusicaudatus: posterior body (vulva visible)
A. obtusicaudatus: posterior body (vulva visible)

A. obtusicaudatus: head region with set off lip region. Odontostyle and guiding sheat visible
A. obtusicaudatus: head region with set off lip region. Odontostyle and guiding sheat visible
A. obtusicaudatus: idem. Odontostyle aperature and odontophore visible.
A. obtusicaudatus: idem. Odontostyle aperature and odontophore visible.
A. obtusicaudatus: idem
A. obtusicaudatus: idem
A. obtusicaudatus: idem
A. obtusicaudatus: idem
A. obtusicaudatus: pharynx intestine region
A. obtusicaudatus: pharynx intestine region
A. obtusicaudatus: idem
A. obtusicaudatus: idem

A. obtusicaudatus: cuticle detail
A. obtusicaudatus: cuticle detail

A. obtusicaudatus: vulva with strong sclerotized inner lips
A. obtusicaudatus: vulva with strong sclerotized inner lips

A. obtusicaudatus: short female tail
A. obtusicaudatus: short female tail

Aporcelaimellus simplex:

Aporcella simplex: Anterior body part (pharynx visible)
Aporcella simplex: Anterior body part (pharynx visible)

Aporcella simplex: Anterior body part (pharynx visible)
Aporcella simplex: Anterior body part (pharynx visible)

Aporcella simplex: Posterior body part (female)
Aporcella simplex: Posterior body part (female)

Aporcella simplex: Posterior body part (juvenile)
Aporcella simplex: Posterior body part (juvenile)

Aporcella simplex: Head region with set off lips and odontostyle
Aporcella simplex: Head region with set off lips and odontostyle

Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle and odontophore
Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle and odontophore

Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle and odontophore
Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle and odontophore

Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle aperture and odontophore
Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle aperture and odontophore

Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle replacement
Aporcella simplex: Head region with odontostyle replacement

Aporcella simplex: Pharynx-intestine region
Aporcella simplex: Pharynx-intestine region

Aporcella simplex: Vulva region
Aporcella simplex: Vulva region
Aporcella simplex: Tail
Aporcella simplex: Tail
Aporcella simplex: Tail
Aporcella simplex: Tail

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