Malenchus fusiformis
syn. Filenchus fusiformis
Tylenchus fusiformis

     Body fusiform, tapering uniformly towards the extremities.  Annules about 3u wide at midbody, gradually diminishing until they are almost invisible on the head and completely lacking on the spicate terminus. Lateral field a bright band with unstriated refractive borders, about 1/4 body width at midbody.  Rarely an obscure median incisure is present.  Head without sclerotized framework.  Spear 10u long with rounded knobs, the muscles attached to the sclerotized inner walls of the lip region.  Only dorsal esophageal gland nucleus observed.  Cardia discoid.  Hemizonid not seen. Vulva with obscure lateral membranes.  Ovary outstretched, its details obscured by massive intestinal granules.  An egg was 12u x 46u. Posterior uterine branch about 1/3 as long as body width.  Vulva-anus distance about 3/4 tail length.  Anus and rectum obscure.  Intestinal cells adjacent to rectum hyaline, not granular.  Neither phasmids nor deirids seen.
     Tylenchus fusiformis is immediately distinguished by the fusiform body, strong annulation, and non-crenate lateral fields.

     Habitat: Prairie sod near grave of Indian Chief Sitting Bull, west side of Missouri River opposite Mobridge, S. Dakota.

(Description- Thorne and Malek, 1968)