Nematomorpha is a phylum of thread-like worms commonly called horsehair worms. Free-living adults are aquatic, have a reduced gut, and do not feed, while juveniles develop as internal parasites of arthropods such as crickets and beetles. Some species are known to alter host behavior, driving infected insects toward water so the adult worm can emerge and complete its life cycle.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ5186, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Nematomorpha
- Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)
In Group: Minor Animal Phyla, Lead
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.
View the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Nematomorpha
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 356
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Nematomorpha
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Nematomorpha" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 100.5 ... "early_interval": "Cenomanian"
Wikidata: Nematomorpha
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