Roundworm

Scientific Name: Nematoda

Order & Family: Order Rhabditida / Various Families

Size: 0.1 to 2.5 mm in length (for most free-living species)

Found in soil, water, and as parasites inside plants or animals

Bacteria, fungi, other nematodes, or nutrients from host organisms

Movement is characteristically undulating and whip-like; many species have complex life cycles involving eggs and larval stages

Benefits include nutrient cycling in soil; risks include parasitical infection in humans, pets, and crops

Identified on: 6/25/2026