Philometridae is a family of nematodes belonging to the order Rhabditida. All Philometridae are obligate tissue parasites of fish.
Life cycle Philometridae cycle between two hosts: Cyclopoida (small crustaceans) as an intermediate host, and various fish as a definitive host. First-stage larvae are ejected into the water, and develop to the third stage if they're eaten by a cyclopoid. Once the copepod is eaten by a fish, the larvae develop into adults and mate. Pregnant females migrate to a final site just under the fish's skin, in the swim bladder, or in the coelom; males die soon after mating and in many Philometridae species they have never been described.
Genera Afrophilometra Moravec, Charo-Karisa & Jirků, 2009 Alinema Rasheed, 1963 Barracudia Moravec & Shamsi, 2017 Buckleyella Rasheed, 1963 Caranginema Moravec, Montoya-Mendoza & Salgado-Maldonado, 2008 Clavinema Yamaguti, 1935 Clavinemoides Moravec, Khosheghbal & Pazooki, 2013 Congerinema Moravec, Nagasawa, Nitta & Tawa, 2019 Dentiphilometra Moravec & Wang, 2002 Dentirumai Quiazon & Moravec, 2012 Digitiphilometroides Moravec & Barton, 2018 Margolisianum Blaylock & Overstreet, 1999 Neophilometroides Moravec, Salgado-Maldonado & Aguilar-Aguila, 2002 Nilonema Khalil, 1960 Paraphilometroides Moravec & Shaharom-Harrison, 1989 Philometra Costa, 1845 Philometroides Yamaguti, 1935 Phlyctainophora Steiner, 1921 Piscinema Rumai Travassos, 1960 Spirophilometra Parukhin, 1971
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