Nematomorpha
Sign in to saveNematomorpha (sometimes called Gordiacea, and commonly known as horsehair worms, hairsnakes, or Gordian worms) are a phylum of parasitoid animals similar to yet distinct from nematode worms in morphology, hence the name. Most species range in size from , reaching in extreme cases, and in diameter. Horsehair worms can be discovered in damp areas, such as watering troughs, swimming pools, streams, puddles, and cisterns. The adult worms are free-living, but the larvae are parasitic on arthropods, such as beetles, cockroaches, mantises, orthopterans, and crustaceans. About 351 freshwater species a
AI overview
Horsehair worms are a group of thin, worm-like parasites whose larvae live inside arthropods like insects and crustaceans before the adults become free-living in water environments such as streams and pools. They matter because they represent a distinct branch of animal life with an unusual parasitic lifecycle and can be found worldwide in freshwater habitats.
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Article
9 sectionsContents
- Description and biology
- Life cycle and development
- Community ecology
- Taxonomy
- References
- Citations
- General and cited references
- Further reading
- External links
Nematomorpha (sometimes called Gordiacea, and commonly known as horsehair worms, hairsnakes, or Gordian worms) are a phylum of parasitoid animals similar to yet distinct from nematode worms in morphology, hence the name. Most species range in size from , reaching in extreme cases, and in diameter. Horsehair worms can be discovered in damp areas, such as watering troughs, swimming pools, streams, puddles, and cisterns. The adult worms are free-living, but the larvae are parasitic on arthropods, such as beetles, cockroaches, mantises, orthopterans, and crustaceans. About 351 freshwater species are known and a conservative estimate suggests that there may be about 2000 freshwater species worldwide. The name "Gordian" stems from the legendary Gordian knot. This relates to the fact that nematomorphs often coil themselves in tight balls that resemble knots.
==Description and biology== Nematomorphs possess an external cuticle without cilia. Internally, they have only longitudinal muscle and a non-functional gut, with no excretory, respiratory or circulatory systems. The nervous system consists of a nerve ring near the anterior end of the animal and a ventral nerve cord running along the body.