Characteristics: Flatworms are
unsegmented worms with a tail and a head end
. They are bilaterally symmetrical with a definite upper and lower surface. They have no body cavity or and no specialized respiratory or circulatory organs.
Why do we classify flatworms?
They are placed in the phylum Platyhelminthes along with organisms like Taenia solium
because of their soft bodies
. They share this phylum with about 25,000 other species of worms, including tapeworms.
How are flatworms classified and what are their characteristics?
Characteristics: Flatworms are
unsegmented worms with a tail and a head end
. They are bilaterally symmetrical with a definite upper and lower surface. They have no body cavity or and no specialized respiratory or circulatory organs.
What family is flatworm in?
| Orchipedum | Scientific classification | Order: Plagiorchiida | Family: Orchipedidae | Genus: Orchipedum |
|---|
What is the phylum and class of a flatworm?
The phylum consists of four classes:
Trematoda (flukes), Cestoda (tapeworms), Turbellaria (planarians), and Monogenea
. It should be noted that some authorities consider Monogenea, which contains the order Aspidogastrea, to be a subclass within the class Trematoda.
What are the main characteristics of flatworm?
- Flatworms have no true body cavity, but they do have bilateral symmetry. …
- Flatworms have an incomplete digestive system. …
- Flatworms do not have a respiratory system. …
- There are no blood vessels in the flatworms.
Can flatworms live in humans?
There are a variety of parasitic worms that can take
up residence in humans
. Among them are flatworms, thorny-headed worms, and roundworms. The risk of parasitic infection is higher in rural or developing regions. The risk is great in places where food and drinking water may be contaminated and sanitation is poor.
Where are flatworms found?
Most freshwater flatworms are free-living and can be found in
ponds, lakes, streams, ditches, and temporary puddles
. They live under rocks, plants, and debris to avoid direct sunlight. They can be found on hard and soft substrates, but are more common on the hard surfaces.
What do humans and flatworms have in common?
Like humans, flatworms are
bilateral
: Their body plans are symmetric. … The team’s research proved that these flatworms represent the first creatures to split from a long-dead ancestor common to all bilateral animals.
What diseases can flatworms cause in humans?
Paragonimiasis is caused by infection with a flatworm. That’s a parasitic worm also called a fluke or lung fluke because it commonly infects the lungs. Usually, infection comes after eating undercooked crab or crayfish that carry immature flukes.
Why are flatworms important to humans?
Flatworms
act as parasites in the human body
, especially in their intestines and digestive tracts. They increase the chances for organic farming. They increased the popularity of raw cooked foods, such as the imports of meat, seafood, and vegetables.
What are the 3 classes of platyhelminthes?
The Platyhelminthes includes three classes:
the Turbellaria (free-living flatworms), the Trematoda (flukes), and the Cestoda (tapeworms)
.
What are the seven levels of classification?
The major levels of classification are:
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
.
What do flatworms look like?
Flatworms have
flat, symmetrical, leaf-shaped bodies
that grow to a size smaller than a quarter. The oyster flatworm is cream-colored with short tentacles on its sides and has eyespots in two rows along its head.
How does a flatworm move?
Flatworms are unsegmented, bilaterally symmetrical worms that lack a coelom (acoelomate) but that do have three germ layers. … Movement in some flatworms is
controlled by longitudinal, circular, and oblique layers of muscle
. Others move along slime trails by the beating of epidermal cilia.
