The

roundworm The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broa ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Trichuridae includes the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal f ...

Trichuris ''Trichuris'', often referred to as whipworms (which typically refers to ''T. trichiura'' only in medicine, and to any other species in veterinary medicine), is a genus of parasitic worms from the roundworm family Trichuridae, which are helmint ...

'' and some less widely known members. They are (after the abolishment of the artificial "

Adenophorea Adenophorea or Aphasmidia was a class of nematodes (roundworms). It has been by and large abandoned by modern taxonomy, because there is strong evidence for it being a motley paraphyletic group of unrelated lineages of roundworms.ToL (2002) Chara ...

" assemblage) placed in subclass

Dorylaimia Dorylaimia is a subclass of nematodes. Description In general, members of subclass Dorylaimia exhibit a great diversity of terrestrial and freshwater species, most of which are large predators or omnivorous free-living species. Some are plant ...

of the class

Enoplea Enoplea (enopleans) is a class, which with the classes SecernenteaTree of Life Web Project (ToL) (2002)Nematoda Version of January 1, 2002. Retrieved November 2, 2008. and Chromadorea make up the phylum Nematoda in current taxonomy. The Enoplea ...

; however, the former might be better treated as a class in its own right. That nonwithstanding, their order (

Trichocephalida The Trichocephalida (Trichinellida or Trichurida in other classifications) is an order of parasitic nematodes. Taxonomy The order Trichocephalida includes, according to modern classifications, the single suborder Trichinellina Hodda, 2007, wh ...

) has been known under alternate names in the past, namely Trichiurida. The genus ''Trichuris'' is particularly well known for being a common parasite of

domestic animal This page gives a list of domesticated animals, also including a list of animals which are or may be currently undergoing the process of domestication and animals that have an extensive relationship with humans beyond simple predation. This includ ...

s and less usually

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

s. Its common name "whipworm" refers to the shape of these worms; they look like whips with wider "handles" at the posterior end. The

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

of Trichuridae are:Hallan (2007) * '' Capillostrongyloides'' Freitas & Lent, 1935 * '' Liniscus'' * '' Orthothominx'' Teixeira de Freitas & Jorge da Silva, 1960 * '' Pearsonema'' Teixeira de Freitas & Machado de Mendonça, 1960 * '' Sclerotrichum'' Rudolphi, 1819 * '' Tenoranema'' Mas-Coma & Esteban, 1985 * ''

Footnotes

References

* (2007)
Family Trichuridae
Version of 2007-AUG-07. Retrieved 2010-MAY-05. Parasitic nematodes of animals Trichocephalida Nematode families {{parasitic animal-stub