Abstract: Objective To investigate the transferable properties of phenotypic and behavioral defects from mercury (Hg) exposed nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans to their progeny. Method Endpoints of lifespan, body size, body bend, head thrash, and chemotaxis plasticity were used for the acute toxicity testing. The transferable properties of phenotypic and behavioral defects from exposed parents to their progeny were examined in Hg exposed nematodes. Results The Hg exposure could cause multi-biological defects of lifespan, body size, body bend, head thrash, and chemotaxis plasticity with a concentration-dependent manner. Most of these toxicities could be transferred to progeny from exposed nematodes. The toxicity on lifespan from Hg exposure could not be obviously recovered in progeny nematodes. The body size defects in progeny of nematodes exposed to Hg appeared even more severe than in their parents. In addition, high concentrations of Hg exposure usually caused the appearance of very slim nematodes, and more nematodes with this phenotype were found in progeny population. The defects of body bends and head thrashes caused by Hg exposure could be largely or completely recovered in progeny nematodes. Moreover, although the chemotaxis plasticity defects in progeny of Hg exposed nematodes could be partially recovered, the chemotaxis plasticity was still seriously impaired. Conclusion Most of the multi-biological toxicities induced by Hg exposure can be considered to be transferable from parental generations to their progeny, and some specific defects in progeny appeared even more severe than in their parental generations.