Reassignment of Lamanema from Nematodirinae to Molineinae (Nematoda : Trichostrongyloidea)

The monospecific Lamanema historically has been assigned to the Nematodirin ae within the Molineidae. Inconsistencies in morphological characters, with in a phylogenetic context for Nematodirinae, led to a re-evaluation of the putative relationships and taxonomic placement of Lamanema. Among 7 putativ e synapomorphies for Nematodirinae, Lamanema possesses only 1, large eggs. Large eggs, sporadically present in phylogenetically disparate taxa of tric hostrongyles, are equivocal with respect to placement of Lamanema; it is co nsidered that possession of this single homoplasious character alone is ins ufficient justification to retain the genus in Nematodirinae. Affinities wi th the Trichostrongylidae (Cooperiinae or Haemonchinae) have also been prop osed; however, Lamanema possess neither of 2 synapomorphies that diagnose m onophyly of the family. Lamanema is retained in the Molineidae and transfer red to the Molineinae as it possesses all characters of the family as curre ntly defined. The origin of Lamanema represents a secondary colonization of ruminants by molineids and provides no context for elucidating the history of the Nematodirinae and Nematodirus.