Domonique Payan

Focal Species Reports

Fall 2011 Bio 17

Focal Species Report: Caenorhabditis Elegans

(Common Name: Roundworm)
photograp
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Taxonomy

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Phylum: Nematoda
Subphylum:
Class: Secernentea
Order: Rhabditia
Family: Rhabditidae
Genus: Caenorhabditis
Species: Caenorhabditis Elegans
They have elongated cylindrical bodies, tapered at both ends, with smooth
skin, no segmentation, and no appendages (ADW).

Mouth, pharynx, intestine, gonad, and collagenous cuticle. Males have a

single-lobed gonad, vas deferens, and a tail specialized for mating.
Hermaphrodites have two ovaries, oviducts, spermatheca, and a single uterus
(Wikipedia).
Adults grow up to (approximately) 1millimeter in length.
These organisms live in soil and are considered Terrestrial Organisms. The
soil they live in must contain continuous level of moisture. The soil must also
contain reasonable amount of oxygen.
Temperate region in many parts of the world.
These organisms are Bacteriovorous, meaning they feed on the different
types of bacteria that are in the soil and in rotting vegetation.
They have two sexes: Males and Hermaphrodites (self-fertilizing). The
hermaphrodites produce sperm and eggs, while the males have sexual
intercourse with the hermaphrodites. The eggs are laid within a 2-3 hour of
fertilization and are hatched in about 12 hours.
These organisms, also known as worms, develop into 4 larval stages, which
take approximately 3 days for them to mature.
These worms are capable of basic (simple) learning. They also have a tactile
sense which enables them to establish their whereabouts. They are also
receptive to chemical signals which helps lead them to food.

Domonique Payan
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References

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The hermaphrodite nervous system is made up of 302 neurons, which are
arranged in an invariant structure.
Their rigid cuticle (outer layer) works with the muscles which makes a hydro
skeleton.
They have four bands of muscles that are located along the side of their body
which are connected to a neural system. This allows the muscles to move the
animal's body only in the dorsal/ ventral direction (Wikipedia).
Horsehair worm
Males usually comprise no more than 0.20% of the natural population
(ADW). They make up about 90% of all life forms on the ocean floor.
These worms are used in scientific research and do not have a negative impact
on humans.
1. Image 1 and 2
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caenorhabditis_elegans.jpg
http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/4241_Devo_Germ_Celegans.html
2. Animal Diversity Web-ADW
www.animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
3. Philosophical Translation of the Royal Society
J.G. White, E. Southgate, J.N Thomson and S. Brenner
www.rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org
4. General Biology/Classification of Living Things
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/General_Biology/Classification_of_Living_
Things/Eukaryotes/Animals/Phyla#Phylum_Nematoda
5. Caenorhabditis elegans From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans