Ancylostomatoidea Structure and Function
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This article is still under construction. |
Scientific Classification
General Appearance
The superfamily Ancylostomatoidea contains the 'hookworms', 1-2 cm long bursate nematodes which belong to the order Strongylida. Several other nematodes of veterinary importance belong to the same order, including the cyathostomins and the gapeworm.
Unlike the rest of the Strongyloidea, the head is bent dorsally so that the buccal cavity is parallel to the rest of the body. Members of the family have large buccal cavities which often feature teeth and cutting plates to allow the adult worms to embed their heads deeply into the mucosa of the small intestine. The large buccal cavity can be easily identified under the microscope and the configuration of teeth and cutting plates can be used to identify individual species.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Nematoda |
Class | Secernentea |
Order | Strongylida |
Superfamily | Ancylostomatoidea |
Family | Ancylostomatidae |