| Anguillicolidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Chromadorea |
| Order: | Rhabditida |
| Suborder: | Spirurida |
| Family: | Anguillicolidae |
Anguillicolidae is a family of nematodes belonging to the order Spirurida. [1]
Genera: [1]
Anguillicoloides crassus is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in the swimbladders of eels and appears to spread easily among eel populations after introduction to a body of water. It is considered to be one of the threats to the sustainability of populations of European eel. It was introduced to the European continent in the 1980s, where it was reported independently from Germany and Italy in 1982, having probably been introduced from Taiwan. It is thought to have reached England in 1987 from continental Europe. It is a natural parasite of the Japanese eel in its native range.
Anguillicoloides novaezelandiae is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in the swimbladders of eels, particularly Anguilla australiensis, Anguilla anguilla and Anguilla dieffenbachii. Specimens have been located in Italy and New Zealand. The species is most similar to A. Australiensis. However, it differs from the latter species in the shape of the head end which is bulbously inflated, almost spherical, and followed by a marked neck constriction in A. Australiensis, whereas it is only slightly expanded in A. novaezelandiae. Also, the anterior ovary in A. australiensis females extends anteriorly to about the mid-length of the oesophagus, while it does not reach the end of the oesophagus in A. novaezelandiae. Both species differ in size and form. While the body of A. australiensis is long and relatively slender, that of A. novaezelandiae is much shorter and wider. The shape of the posterior end of the female body is different in these two species.
| Authority control databases: National |
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