''Durikainema'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of two nematodes in the family Robertdollfusiidae. Species have a head with a cuticular cephalic inflation, elongated papillae and

amphid Amphids (Greek: ''amphi'', around, double) are innervated invaginations of cuticle in nematodes. They are usually found in the anterior (head) region of the animal, at the base of the lips. Amphids are the principal olfactosensory organs of nematod ...

s, and well-developed musculature. Characteristics of the males include a single

spicule Spicules are any of various small needle-like anatomical structures occurring in organisms Spicule may also refer to: *Spicule (sponge), small skeletal elements of sea sponges *Spicule (nematode), reproductive structures found in male nematodes ( ...

and a long attenuated tail. ''Durikainema'' species parasitize

macropods Macropod may refer to: * Macropodidae, a marsupial family which includes kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, pademelons, and several others * Macropodiformes, a marsupial suborder which includes kangaroos, wallabies and allies, bettongs, potoro ...

. The genus was circumscribed in 1982 with the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specime ...

''Durikainema macropi'', a parasite of the eastern grey kangaroo (''Macropus giganteus''). '' D. phascolarcti'', parasite of the

koala The koala or, inaccurately, koala bear (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the w ...

(''Phascolarctos cinereus''), was described in 1998.

References

Enoplea Enoplea genera Parasitic nematodes of mammals Parasites of marsupials Nematodes described in 1982 {{Enoplea-stub