Phylum Aschelminthes

Introduction 

The world of the Phylum Aschelminthes family consists of various members of distinctive features. This group connects with humankind strongly and on a more ground level. The Aschelminthes is a worm that marks its presence as an ancient species and consists of Pseudocoelom. This particular worm follows the complete life cycle of a Phylum Aschelminthes  and comprises almost all the body organs. There are various classifications and characteristics which make these phyla distinctive features. As nature is regenerating in its kind, many similar invertebrate species are connected with this type of phylum Aschelminthes. It is a polyphyletic group of species.

Definition:

These worms are the ringworms that come under the category of the obsolete phylum. These are the microscopic creatures that include seven varieties of species. Another thing is that the Aschelminthes have the pseudocoel cavity, which is a peculiar cavity in its kind. This is why it does not have much evolutionary scope and links with the other Phylum groups. 

These worms are round in shape and have triploblastic, which is bilateral. These worms have a unique mention in the family because of their notable cavity presence. This group of Aschelminthes has ten diverse invertebrates. The best thing is that they fall under the category of parasitic and  some free-living creatures. They commonly feed bacteria,fungi and decaying organic matter in soil.

Some of these parasites mark their presence in the intestine of humans and animals. Due to these Aschelminthes worms’ diseases like diarrhoea, colic pain, impaired digestion are noticeable. There are certain medicines available to remove such worms from the body. 

Classification:

These worms have a vast range of classification and subclassification. Many studies find the categories of Aschelminthes examples researching each of its types. Here are some of the mentions of its varieties:

• Acanthocephala:

These worms have spiny and thorny heads and are a parasite that contains acanthocephalan. These are dangerous parasites that hold and pierce their host’s gut with their prickly spines. They live complex lifestyles in which they need at least two hosts to survive. This host can be birds, mammals and  fish, etc. Till now, around 1420 species of this type of Aschelminthes are present. They do not have a mouth or a digestive tract.

• Chaetognatha:

These are the predators and have the name of arrow worms. They usually live in algae form on the rocks and have the unique character of benthic. Believe it or not, these species are generally in torpedo shape and fine form. Some of the species of phylum Aschelminthes which are found in the deep sea are in orange colour. They undergo internal fertilisation and have different heads, tails, and trunks.

• Cycliophora:

This type of Aschelminthes includes themselves in amphibians. These are present in the deep sea and connect with lobsters living in cold water. This type of species undergoes both sexual and asexual reproduction. They have a complex reproductive cycle and try to generate many young ones at a time. This is because they ensure who can survive and find an efficient host.

• Gastrotricha:

These are the worms with maximum pseudocoelomate in freshwater and marine water. These worms have a hairy appearance with lots of hairs on their bellies and back. There are around 800 species of such Aschelminthes. They have the prime categorization in two types:

• Macadamia- which includes the marine species (excluding two)
• Chaetonotida: some of which are fresh, and some are marine.
• Kinorhyncha:

This type of worm is the tiniest phylum among all the present species. They have the invertebrate marine type and are present in great depth in sand or mud. They consist of a limbless body and a division of segments for the complete body. The count of around eleven segments is present on such Aschelminthes. They contain lots of spines, and both genders have a similar appearance.

• Nematoda:

These are the composition of nematodes and roundworms. They are eelworms with a plant-parasitic quality which has the name of nematode. Most nematodes contain a microscopic appearance, and some are very small and thin, with lengths around 0.1 to 2.5 mm. They are free-living flatworms with a digestive tract open with two ends in a tube shape.

• Priapulida

These are the formation of sea worms that lack their segments. Penis worm is another name of this type of Aschelminthes. These worms are cylindrical with division in the body of two segments. The body has a complete spine covering the abdomen, where the primary section acts, and the secondary is the ridge. They find their residence in the shallow water around 90 metres (300ft) deep in the sea.

• Rotifera:

This type of  Aschelminthes is microscopic or almost near to it. They have symmetrical bodies and have several forms in their categories. Some reside in freshwater  and some find their residence in seawater. The body has a clear head, trunk, foot, and tail division. Apart from all these, they have spines, ridges and thick hard cuticles that provide the box’s structure.

Characteristics of Aschelminthes:

• They have a substantial quantity of Pseudocoelom cavity.
• They are free-living, parasites present in mud, fresh and marine water and the intestines of humans and animals.
• The Aschelminthes lack a respiratory system and their skin is responsible for exchanging gases.
• The nervous system consists of nervous chords and rings.

Conclusion:

The phylum Aschelminthes comprises a vast variety of species. Each type has its features and functionality. They are in the single breed because their body types have a similar cavity. This is the only responsible factor for the evolution of these species. They are growing and evolving in many ways with time. Presently they are in the context of building their habitat in mud, soil, seawater, freshwater, crops, animal , human intestine and many more. By the time these are evolving very fast.