Are roundworms more closely related to arthropods than to flatworms?

This statement is true.

To understand why, we need to look at the evolutionary relationships within the animal kingdom. Roundworms, or nematodes, and arthropods both belong to a group known as Ecdysozoa. This group is characterized by organisms that shed their exoskeletons as they grow. In contrast, flatworms, or platyhelminths, are part of a different group called Lophotrochozoa, which does not include roundworms or arthropods.

Therefore, since roundworms and arthropods share a more recent common ancestor compared to flatworms, it is accurate to say that roundworms are indeed more closely related to arthropods.

More Related Questions