Nematomorpha
Phylum of parasitoid animals; horsehair worms
Summary
Nematomorpha are a phylum of parasitoid animals similar to yet distinct from nematode worms in morphology, hence the name. Most species range in size from 5 to 10 centimetres, reaching 2 metres in extreme cases, and 1 to 3 millimetres 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.
Originally created by Mav
3/7/2002, 12:50:17 AM
Modified
5/14/2026, 1:33:40 AM
Recent revisions
[[MOS:CURLY]], [[MOS:CONTRACTION]]
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It isn't really superficial, given that they are the closest relatives to nematodes
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