- Worm-like body, tube within a tube construction
- Acoelomates in smaller ones and Pseudocoelomates in larger ones, lined only by mesoderm on one side
- found everywhere and are very abundant. Homogenous in their body form, all of them look very similar on the surface as well, small, transparent, tapered body at both ends
- feed on bacteria and fungi and control the decomposers.
- also roundworms, the fluid in the coelom is maintained under very high pressure, not segmejnted like annelids and colorless
- molt their cuticle and go through 4 molts to reach their adult form
- Undergo eutely, their body is built out of a genetically determined species specific number of cells 959-1113
- Pressure in ascaris is about the same in human blood vessels ~110/70.
- Nematodes only have longitudinally arranged muscle fibers that run the length of their body but not around so not capable of peristalsis, only can thrash from side to side
- Males have copulatory spicules that are inserted in females body for sperm to crawl out of and also have a hooked end
- Ascaris is an important parasite for humans and pigs.
ie Hookworms, Guinea Worm, Trichinosis, Filarial Worms, Heartworm, Elephantiasis