1. Dracunculus is commonly known as the Guinea worm or serpent worm.
2. It is the largest known roundworm.
3. Adult worms live in the deeper layers of skin of the arms, shoulders and legs.
4. Reported in the regions of Africa, North America China and India etc.
5. The anterior part of the pharynx is muscular but the posterior part is glandular.
6. The sexual dimorphism is distinct, posterior end of mail is curbed having four pairs of pre anal and six pairs of post anal papillae, a pair of equal filiform copulatory spicules and gubernaculum.
7. Females are viviparous.
8. The secondary host is cyclops.
9. Man is infected when infected cyclops reach, somehow, in the alimentary canal with contaminated water.
10. The disease caused is called Guinea worm disease.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Invertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
