| helminthes | <zoology> One of the grand divisions or branches of the animal kingdom. It is a large group including a vast number of species, most of which are parasitic. Synonym: Enthelminthes, Enthelmintha. The following classes are included, with others of less importance: Cestoidea (tapeworms), Trematodea (flukes, etc), Turbellaria (planarians), Acanthocephala (thornheads), Nematoidea (roundworms, trichina, gordius), Nemertina (nemerteans). See Plathelminthes, and Nemathelminthes. Origin: NL, fr. Gr, a worm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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