Microscope images show adult human roundworms and parasite structures.

Human Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) — Microscope images show adult human roundworms and parasite structures.

Creator: [Vivien Rolfe](https://www.flickr.com/people/71607123@N03), [Flickr source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/biologycourses/7686831246/), [Wikimedia Commons file](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ascaris_lumbricoides_x10mag_(2)UK_NEQAS_(7686831246).jpg), CC BY-SA 2.0. Licence: [CC BY-SA 2.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

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Species record

Human Roundworm

Ascaris lumbricoides

Explore the Human Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

Ascaris lumbricoides is a parasitic roundworm whose adult stage lives in the human small intestine. Its eggs leave the body in feces and can mature in contaminated soil before being swallowed, so infection is more common where sanitation is limited. Infections occur worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Roundworms
  3. Class: Chromadorean roundworms
  4. Order: Ascaridida
  5. Family: Ascarididae
  6. Genus: Ascaris

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
human small intestine, soil contaminated with human feces
Selected regions
Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • The eggs need time in soil to mature before they can infect another person.

More images

A magnified oval egg of the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.

Human Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) — A magnified oval roundworm egg.

Creator: [Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ajay_Kumar_Chaurasiya), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Egg_of_Ascaris_lumbricoides.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0. Licence: [CC BY-SA 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

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Sources and attribution