Nouvel & Nouvel (1934) and Nielsen (1969) did not observe any tissue alteration. After emerging from their hosts, adult nematomorphs use their dorsal and ventral double rows of bristles to swim through open water. In preparation for reproduction, mature females' body cavities become filled with eggs, while males form sperm sacs. Unlike gordiids, nectonematids copulate, with males inserting their posterior end into the genital opening of the female. References Nematomorpha Parasitic protostomes Animals described in 1879 Taxa named by Addison Emery Verrill