Question

Name two parasitic members of phylum Platyhelminthes.

Answer 1

Phylum Platyhelminthes:

1. They have an organ level of body organisation.
2. They are triploblastic, which means they have three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) and are bilaterally symmetrical organisms.
3. They are acoelomate organisms which means they do not have a body cavity or coelom.
4. These are mostly parasites but a few are also free-living.
5. An important characteristic of flatworms is the presence of organs like hooks and suckers which help in the attachment to the hosts.

Liver fluke and tapeworm are two parasitic members of the phylum Platyhelminthes.