Genus Rhabditella
Cobb, 1929
Definition: Rhabditinae. These nematodes are slimmer and have
longer tails than species of Cephaloboides. Stoma long and
and narrow. Lips closed, not forming an open cup. Oesophageal
collar always present. Metarhabdions with 5 or 6 tubercules in place
of teeth, usually anisoglottid, anisomorphic in one species. Vulva
median, ovaries paired, opposed reflexed. Female tail long and conical.
Male tail very long; bursa reduced, leptoderan; bursal papillae radially
arranged. Papillae pairs 1, 4 and 9 sublateral..Spicules separate.
Bionomics: All species occur where bacteria are plentiful,
on which they feed. Hirschmann (1952) showed that breeding of Rhabditids
depends on ingestion of living bacteria.
Type species: Rhabditis (Rhabditella) octopleura
Steiner, 1929 (Dougherty, 1953)