Nematodes

Overview

A Hemicycliophora, a species of Nematoda.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Nematode is defined as, "Any of a phylum (Nematoda or Nemata) of elongated cylindrical worms parasitic in animals or plants or free-living soil or water". Nematodes are the most diverse, and adapted phylum of metazoans and are found all over the earth in many different regions. There are expected to be around 50,000 species of Nematodes that exist today. Nematodes are one of many phyla that are classified as a protostome, although they do not follow with Annelids because of the Nematode's tubular design.

Anatomy

The body of a nematode is long and narrow; The term nema is a greek work meaning thread, a close resemblance to the body shape of a nematode.