Caenorhabditis_elegans AnAge entry for Caenorhabditis elegans

Classification (HAGRID: 04657)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Nematoda (Taxon entry)
        Class: Chromadorea
            Order: Rhabditida
                Family: Rhabditidae
                    Genus: Caenorhabditis
Species
Caenorhabditis elegans
Common name
Roundworm

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

IMR
2/year
MRDT
0.04 years
Maximum longevity
0.16 years (captivity)
Source
Multiple references, please see bibliography below
Sample size
Large
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

These animals are free-living nematodes usually found in the soil of temperate environments. After hatching, roundworms undergo four larval stages before reaching adulthood. Caloric restriction has been shown to extend lifespan in roundworms. Temperature also influences the lifespan of the roundworm with higher temperatures shortening lifespan and lower temperatures extending lifespan, at least until a certain threshold [0745]. Although physiological ageing has been described in roundworms, in particular at the level of decreased movement which may reflect a decline in muscle cells, the cause of death of old animals remains a mystery [0981].

Several genetic manipulations have succeeded in extending the longevity of the roundworm, but many of these take into account the dauer stage, which involves a developmental arrest [0592]. As such, the maximum longevity is a conservative estimate.

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
3 days
Male sexual maturity
3 days
Adult weight

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

Species in other databases

GenAge
Genes have been associated with ageing in this organism
GenDR

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 63332
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 6239
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
Images
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Internet
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