Small animals
Nematodes
Nematoda (roundworms)
Smooth, unsegmented worms tapering at both ends, thrashing in S-shaped curves.
What to look for
- Thread-like, round in cross-section, with a tough shiny cuticle.
- Whip-like side-to-side bending; they make little forward progress in open water.
- Gut and a muscular pharynx visible at 100–400×.
Size in the field
At 100× a medium nematode crosses a good part of the field.
Where to find it
Sediment, moss, decaying plants; almost every sample has a few.
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