Wuchereria+bancroft

BASIC __SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION__: Species Wuchereria bancroft

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Nematoda Class: Secernentea Order: Spirurida Family: Onchocercidae

**__BASIC__ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION** Wuchereria bancrofts are semitransparent white worms with a cuticle. Their __head__ is separated from the body by a "neck."

Females are generally 30 to 100 mm in diameter with varying lengths. Males are usually half the size of their female counterparts.

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=HABITAT = Wuchereria bancrofts are found in areas where mosquitoes are found. For example, it is found in temporary pools or standing water.

The only natural host of Wuchereria bancrofts are humans. The adult worms live in lymphatic vessels especially those <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">that area around the groin area. Other areas of Wuchereria bancroft infestation include thoracic muscles.

=<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">NICHE = <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">The ecological role of Wuchereria bancroft is to be a parasite and control human population numbers. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">They do not invade any other organism. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">They do not serve any positive benefits for humans.

=<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">ODD = <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Wuchereria bancroft ONLY invades humans. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Wuchereria bancroft cause a crippling disease known as elephantitis (shown on our home page).

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