Diagnosis- Criconematina. Body moderate to large (0.6 - 2.0 mm), vermiform, straight to arcuate upon relaxation, with thick cuticle and coarse round annules numbering over 200. Juveniles and females have extra cuticle as a protective sheath, except in Caloosia. Lateral fields present except in females of Caloosia and of a few other genera. Female cephalic region with one to three annules, with a labial disc but lacking submedian lobes. Stylet in juveniles and females elongated (over 50 um long in females), basal knobs rounded, usually posteriorly sloping. Oesophagus criconematoid, with a short, broad isthmus amalgamated with basal bulb. Intestine syncytial, vacuolated, usually extending anteriorly over basal bulb, subterminal; lips variously modified. Monodelphic, prodelphic. Female tail usually elongate-conoid to filiform but may be cylindroid or rarely hemispherical. Males with degenerated oesophagus, no stylet, an elongated tail and prominent bursa that rarely covers more than half of the tail. Spicules setaceous, long, usually strongly curved to become semicircular, U- or hook-shaped (Hemicycliophoridae), but may be arcuate (Loofia) or straight (Caloosiidae). Gubernaculum fixed. Cloacal lips usually elongated to form a penial tube. Hypoptygma single, seta-like, at posterior lip of cloaca.
-Siddiqi, 2000 |
