Dorylaimia is a subclass of

nematode The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitic. Parasitic worms (h ...

Description

In general, members of subclass Dorylaimia exhibit a great diversity of terrestrial and freshwater species, most of which are large predators or omnivorous free-living species. Some are plant parasites, whereas others are animal parasites ( Trichinellida and Mermithida). No members of the Dorylaimia are found in marine habitats. Dorylaimia bear an odontostyle, a protrusible, hollow, needlelike tooth for puncturing and emptying food items.

Taxonomy

Phylogenetic analysis In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical data ...

of phylum

Nematoda The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitism, parasitic. Parasitic ...

suggests three distinct basal

clades In biology, a clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that is composed of a common ancestor and all of its descendants. Clades are the fundamental unit of cladistics, a modern approach to taxonomy ...

, the dorylaims,

enoplids Enoplida is an order (biology), order of nematodes. It is one of two orders in Enoplia, which is one of two subclasses in Class Enoplea.chromadorids. These represent Clades I, II and C+S of Blaxter (1998). Of these, the first two appear to have

sister clade In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and ...

status, allowing resolution into two classes, Enoplea and Chromadorea, and division of the former into two subclasses corresponding to Clades I and II respectively, the Enoplia and Dorylaimia. Nevertheless, the possibility remains that Dorylaimia will eventually be shown to be a distinct third class of nematodes.

Subdivision

has resulted in a reorganization, with, for instance, moving the Triplonchida to subclass Enoplia. Subclass Dorylaimia is divided into the following orders; **Order Dioctophymatida Baylis and Daubney, 1926 **Order Dorylaimida Pearse, 1942 **Order Isolaimida Cobb, 1920 **Order Marimermithida Rubtzov, 1980 **Order Mermithida Hyman, 1951 **Order Mononchida Jairajpuri, 1969 **Order Muspiceida Bain and Chabaud, 1959 **Order Trichinellida Hall, 1916

Description

Taxonomy

Subdivision

References

Further reading