The

roundworm The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitic. Parasitic worms (hel ...

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Trichuridae includes the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') 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-bearin ...

Trichuris ''Trichuris'' (synonym ''Trichocephalus''), often referred to as whipworms or the silent serpent (which typically refers to ''T. trichiura'' only in medicine, and to any other species in veterinary medicine), is a Genus–differentia definition, ...

'' 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) Descr ...

" assemblage) placed in subclass Dorylaimia of the class

Enoplea Enoplea (enopleans) is a Class (biology), 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 Nematode, Nematoda in cur ...

; however, the former might be better treated as a class in its own right. That nonwithstanding, their order ( Trichocephalida) 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'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...

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 (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

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