1. openings, alae, papillae, rays, supplements, glands
All Things Caudal
openings, alae, papillae, rays, supplements, glands
Howard Ferris
Department of Nematology
UC Davis
April, 2006

2. Spicules
Gubernaculum
Bursaphelenchus mucronatus

3. Cruznema sp.
Cloaca: a common opening of the
intestinal and reproductive tracts
in male nematodes

4. Anus and Vulva: separate openings of intestinal and reproductive tracts in female and hermaphrodite nematodes

5. Steinernema Genital Papillae

6. Cruznema sp.
Scutellonema sp.
Genital papillae less common in caudal alae of Tylenchida
“Rays” in Rhabditida are extended genital papillae;
probably tactile, not supportive
Caudal Alae:
Common in Secernentea
Derivation: alae = wings

7. In rhabditids, formulae often applied to configuration of rays.
e.g., 2,(1),1,3,2
Cobb’s bursal formula for Rhabditis
Papillae distinguished from rays by ;
Rays or papillae opposite cloaca by ()
Presentation to Helminthological Society of Washington, 1916
Cruznema lincolnensis

8. Order Tylenchida
Peloderan: Caudal alae meet posterior to tail tip
Leptoderan: Caudal alae meet anterior to tail tip
Terms introduced by Schneider, 1866
Order Strongylida
Order Spirurida
Arakoderan: Caudal alae completely surround cloaca

9. Order Strongylida
Term “bursa” often applied:
bursa copulatrix
Derivation: bursa = bucket

10. Bursa function in copulation
Oesophagostomum sp.
A = male
B = female
C = bursa

11. Caudal alae distinguished from Lateral Alae
Lateral alae may occur in males and females as lateral or sublateral
extensions of the cuticle which may extend along body.
Seen in several taxa of ascarids and chromadorids.
In free-swimming nematodes, may aid in propulsion.
Tripyla alaecaudata
Cervical Alae: Modified lateral alae in the anterior region of strongylids, ascarids and spirurids.
Toxocara cati
Toxocara canis

12. Enchodelus sp. – ventromedian supplements
Supplementary Glands secrete during copulation

13. Caudal Glands are common in adenophorean nematodes.
They secrete adhesive material by which the nematodes can attach to a substrate.
Usually there are three caudal gland cells but the number ranges from two to five.
Caudal gland cells usually share a common orifice, which is closed by a spinneret valve, at the end of the tail.
Sabateria sp.

14. Mucro: a cuticular projection at the tail tip. Common in Aphelenchina
Bursaphelenchus mucronatus
Laimaphelenchus sp.
Aphelenchoides sp.