top of page

Nematode

Caenorhabditis elegans

INDEX

fauna

Nematode
Species Description

A free-living transparent nematode that lives in temperate soil environments. It survives by feeding on microbes, primarily bacteria. C. elegans is an unsegmented pseudocoelomate and lacks respiratory or circulatory systems.

Most of these nematodes are hermaphrodites and a few are males (about 1 in 1000). Males have a single-lobed gonad, a vas deferens, and a tail specialized for mating, which incorporates spicules. Hermaphrodites have two ovaries, oviducts, and spermatheca, and a single uterus.

The hermaphroditic worm is considered to be a specialized form of self-fertile female, as its soma is female. The hermaphroditic germline produces male gametes first, and lays eggs through its uterus after internal fertilization.

Species Details

FAMILY

Rhabditidae

GENUS

Rhabditidae

SIZE

1 mm in length

LIFE SPAN

18-20 days

HEMISPHERE

Both

ECOSYSTEM

Lives in temperate soil environments.

Add a Sighting
Sources
bottom of page