The species has been established as a satellite model organism to Caenorhabditis elegans, with which it shared a common ancestor 200–300 million years ago.

The genome of P. pacificus has been fully sequenced,[1] which in combination with other tools for genetic analysis make this species a tractable model in the laboratory, especially for studies of developmental biology.

The most common type, at least in wild-type lab strains, is the "eurystomatous" morph, which can feed on both bacteria and other nematode species.

[4] The two feeding morphs, which allow the nematodes to respond quickly to changing environments, are specified by a hormonal and genetic cascade during larval development.

[10] Thus, Pristionchus is an omnivore that can utilize bacteria, protozoa and fungi as food sources, all of which grow on the carcasses of scarab beetles.