Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi

Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Tylenchida
Family: Panagrolaimidae
Genus: Tarantobelus
Species:
T. jeffdanielsi
Binomial name
Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi
Schurkman et al. 2022

Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi is a species of nematode, and is one of only two species known to infect tarantulas.[1][2]

History

T. jeffdanielsi was discovered in 2018 when a wholesale breeder noticed white discharge in the mouths of their tarantulas, and strange behavior prior to death. This discharge were the nematodes in the tarantula's oral cavity.[1][2]

Biology

The nematodes infect the oral cavity of a tarantula. The host will begin to lose control of its appendages and fangs, causing starvation and a 'tip toe' like walking behavior.[1][2] The nematodes only infect the tarantula's mouth, suggesting they may feed on bacteria that lives on tarantulas rather than the actual tarantula.[3]

Taxonomy

T. jeffdanielsi was named after actor Jeff Daniels for his role in the 1990 movie Arachnophobia.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Schurkman, Jacob; Anesko, Kyle; Abolafia, Joaquín; De Ley, Irma Tandingan; Dillman, Adler R. (2022-01-17). "Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi n. sp. (Panagrolaimomorpha; Panagrolaimidae), a Nematode Parasite of Tarantulas". Journal of Parasitology. 108 (1): 30–43. doi:10.1645/21-42. ISSN 0022-3395. PMID 35038325. S2CID 246352651.
  2. ^ a b c d Brandon Specktor published (2022-01-20). "Parasitic worm forces tarantulas to tiptoe, then starves them to death". livescience.com. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  3. ^ "Scientists discover tarantula-killing worms: New parasite named after actor Jeff Daniels -- ScienceDaily". ScienceDaily. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
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