Question

Choose the incorrect statement related to the adaptations of endoparasites.

• A. Loss of unnecessary sense organs
• B. Presence of adhesive organs or suckers
• C. Loss of digestive system
• D. Development of cryptically-coloured bodies

Answer 1

The correct option is D Development of cryptically-coloured bodies

Parasitism is a type of population interaction between two living species in which one organism (the parasite) lives and derives nutrition from another specific organism (the host).
Endoparasites are parasites that live inside the body of its host.

Parasites have evolved to parasitise a specific species (host-specific) by developing special adaptations to successfully and efficiently parasitise its host.

The following are the common adaptations shown by endoparasites:

• Loss of unnecessary sense organs - Sense organs (eyes, ears, etc.) are necessary for quick and efficient response to the environmental stimuli in free-living organisms. Since endoparasites live inside the host’s body where the environment is more or less uniform, the sense organs are highly reduced and sometimes entirely absent. Example - Hookworms.

• Presence of adhesive organs or suckers to cling on to the host - For a firm grip inside the host’s body, some special organs of adhesion are necessary. For example, tapeworms possess suckers with which they can hang on to the gut lining of their hosts.

• Loss of digestive system - Since endoparasites consume digested or semi-digested food of the host, the alimentary canal and digestive glands are partially or wholly lost. For example, in all tapeworms the digestive system is absent.

Camouflage or cryptic colouration, is a defense mechanism that organisms use to hide themselves from predatators by blending in with their surroundings. This is present in some insects, butterflies and frogs.
As endoparasites live inside the body of the host, away from predators, cryptic colouration is absent in them. Hence option d is incorrect.