Worms (Nematomorpha & Platyhelminthes)

There are many groups of "worms" placed in different Phyla and 

Classes. Most cave-adapted worms are aquatic flatworms, or planarians.

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031a.JPG: Sphalloplana evaginata Kenk, SB: A blind planarian from Berome Moore Cave, Perry County, about 10 mm long. There are four known stygobitic planarians in Missouri: two Macrocotyla like the "pink planarian" in Devil's Icebox, Boone County, and two Sphalloplana.
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031b.jpg: Macrocotyla glandulosa, the stygobitic Pink planarian, known only from Devil's Icebox Cave, Boone Co., Missouri. By MDC.
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032a.JPG: Gordius sp., a gordian worm or nematomorph, about 20 cm long, is the free-living adult form of the parasite that lives in camel crickets. The adult escapes from a blister on the side of the cricket, and lives in pools like this one in McDowell Cave, Shannon County. Crickets are re-infected from drinking the eggs in water.
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032b.JPG: Closeup of a horsehair, or gordian worm. This animal is a parasite of insects and  does not infect humans or other vertebrates.
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