Axonolaimus
The free-living marine nematodes genus Axonolaimus was established by Dr. J.G. de Man in 1889. In samples from the coast of Penzance (UK) he discovered this genus for the first time and described the type species as Axonolaimus filiformis de Man, 1889.
At present this genus includes just over 40 described species and is distributed world wide (including Antarctica). Typical for this genus is the presence of a double conical shaped buccal cavity often with 6 small odontia (tooth like structures) in the anterior part of the head; 6 + 4 cephalic setae (two separated circles); an amphid with an elongated loop and females and males with respectively two ovaries and testes. Most species have been described from coastal intertidal sand or mud.
More pictures of Axonolaimus:
(Click on the pictures for an enlargement, ©Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Nematology/Pictures: Hanny van Megen)