Category: Invertebrates
This diverse phylum is made up of an estimated 1 million species of roundworms, many of which are parasitic. Nematodes have adapted to almost every possible habitat on earth, including marine and freshwater habitats, soils, tropical to desert to polar climates, and from very low to very high elevations. They are quite literally everywhere, and they outnumber us and all other animals in species count and actual numbers by a long shot! Species of these slender worms can vary greatly in size, from microscopic proportions to over a meter in length! Widely known roundworms include hookworms, pinworms, whipworms, and the species that causes trichinosis.
It’s an ant’s world. We’re just living in it.
Do humans truly dominate the world? The Argentine ant may have something to say about that. Many ants are known for their large colonies, but the Argentine ant, named for its South American origins takes this to a whole other level. Due to inadvertent introduction by humans, the Argentine ant has spread to all continents except Antarctica. There are now three known super-colonies of these ants: one in Europe (the largest, covering 3,700 miles), one in California (560 miles), and another on the west coast of Japan. Ants are often territorial, but amazingly, ants belonging to the super-colonies recognize one another: if you were to introduce a super colony ant from Japan to one from Europe or California, they will recognize each other as friends!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
