(No common name)

ORDER

Nectonematoidea

FAMILY

Nectonematidae

TAXONOMY

Nectonema agile Verill, 1873, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Body ranges from grayish white to pale cream. Semi-transparent anterior tips. Body length ranges from 1.2–7.9 in (32–200 mm) with a maximum diameter of 0.03 in (0.75 mm). Both male and females ends entire. Sensory bristles in two rows cover the length of the adult body.

DISTRIBUTION

Found sporadically throughout the world. The locations include the eastern seaboard of North America, Brazil, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea.

HABITAT

Adults are free-living in marine environments. This species is often collected in intertidal areas, especially at night in the glare of artificial light. Juveniles are parasites of decapod crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp.

BEHAVIOR

Nothing is known.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Parasitic during larval stage, non-feeding as adult.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nothing is known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.