aphelenchus
|a-phe-len-chus|
/ˌæfɪˈlɛŋkəs/
small eel-like nematode (genus)
Etymology
'aphelenchus' originates from New Latin (a scientific taxonomic name), likely formed from Ancient Greek elements meaning 'simple' (apheles) + 'eel' or 'serpent-like' (enekhos/enkhos), referring to its slender, eel-like body.
'aphelenchus' was coined in taxonomic (New Latin) usage in modern zoological literature in the 19th or early 20th century to name a genus of nematodes and has remained as the standard scientific name in biological classification.
Initially coined as a descriptive scientific name meaning roughly 'simple eel-like creature,' it has come to denote specifically the taxonomic genus 'Aphelenchus' of nematodes rather than a descriptive phrase.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of small, usually soil-dwelling nematodes (roundworms) in the family Aphelenchidae; members are often fungivorous or associated with decaying plant material and can be important in soil ecology.
Aphelenchus is commonly found in soil and leaf litter and plays a role in decomposing organic matter.
Last updated: 2025/09/16 01:28