Question

Differentiate between platyhelminthes and Nematoda?

Answer 1

Platyhelminthes and Nematoda are two major invertebrate phyla in the Kingdom Animalia that show some difference between them in terms of their morphology.

Nematodes are called roundworms while Platyhelminthes are called flatworms.

• Nematodes are pseudocoelomates, while Platyhelminthes are acoelomates.

• Species of nematodes are higher than that of Platyhelminthes.

• Platyhelminthes have an incomplete gut whereas nematodes have a complete one.

• Unlike in nematodes, Platyhelminthes have flame cells to do the excretory functions.

• The body length of flatworms may vary from 1 mm or less to many meters. Unlike flatworms, most roundworms are microscopic.

• Platyhelminthes are hermaphroditic and nematodes are gonochoric.