2 
BANHS 
Voo-v, Jt 117 KOI 
Ncmiiiixlcs live in .i very wide range 
of habitats. from hot springs to icy 
sea-., from mountain tops to ocean 
floors When they are active, 
nematodes need moisture, hut some 
k mtls can survive long periods o! 
drought. Many nematodes live in 
small, isolated habitats. They live 
among the mosses and lichens on 
tree trunks. They live in the water 
that collects in the rolled-up young 
leaves of certain plants Some may 
even live on our eyelashes, feeding 
on bits of dust and micro-organisms, 
Nematodes' habits vary great Iv 
Most nematodes live in the soil or in 
the mud of rivers, lakes and seas. 
They feed on tiny micro-organisms, 
on dead organic matter, or on the 
hacUMia and lungi in the dead organic 
matter. Nematodes that feed on 
decaying matter, or food made In 
yeasts, just suck in fluids. Those 
feeding on tiuv plants and animals 
have “lips' to surround their food. 
There are nematodes that feed on the 
roots of larger plants, and become 
important plant pests. These worms 
usually have a piercing mouthpart 
called a stylet. The hollow stylet 
works like an injection needle. The 
nematode uses the stylet to pierce t lie- 
plant cell anil suck out its juices 
Carnivorous nematodes may be 
active predators, attacking and eating 
other small invertebrates. Some 
predatory nematodes use a stylet to 
attack their tiny prey. They pierce the 
prey, inject a substance to digest the 
tissues, and >uck out the juices. 
Olliers have solid stylets, powerful 
pincers, or liny teeth, to stab, bite or 
shred their prey 
There are nematodes that have 
become parasites in most animals, 
vertebrate and invertebrate. Parasitic 
nematodes feed in several different 
ways. 
Acknowledgements; 
Alex Mac kav. Dr Davis and Dr Rees 
kindly prov ided information, and 
Maryunne Kainau wrote some of the 
original text. 
Illustrations from A'i/0//*o/f magazine. 
July 19KK. by Nani Croze and 
Katrinek.i Croze. 
An earlier version of this series of 
articles first appeared in A 'a in how 
magazine. 
References: 
Brusca. R C & G.J Brusca. 1990 
hnvrlchraics Sinauer Associates, Ini 
Huchshaum. R. 19 is. Animals tillbom 
HacL'Ixmes Penguin Books 
Pni ions articles in this series: 
Corals and Jellyfish: Builders and 
Stingers, IL IV/ /.S' Bulletin JO < 1 ): 20- 
29. 
Platworms. simple animals that 
wriggle inside us. EANHS Bulletin 50 
• 2): l-S, 
