Lists are not all-inclusive but are meant to provide a starting point. C. elegans is one of 10,000 known nematode species. The actual number may be more than 100,000. In terms of individuals, nematodes account for an estimated four of every five animals in the world.
Parasitic nematodes are major challenges to human health and agriculture.
Parasitic nematodes, including whipworm, Ascaris, hookworm, and filarial worms, currently infect about 3 billion people. Plant parasitic nematodes, such as root knot nematode, cause an estimated 80 billion dollars in crop damage annually. Much of the knowledge of nematode anatomy, development, genetics, and genomics gained from the study of C. elegans is transferable to the study of other nematodes. This page is designed to aid C. elegans researchers new to the study of parasitic nematodes or other non- Caenorhabditis species in finding the information they desire. Platt, H. M. Foreword.