Tapeworms

Tapeworms are flat segmented worms that usually live in the intestines of animals. Tapeworms are animals that have three stages of life. The stages include the egg stage, larva stage, and finally the adult stage which is when eggs are produced. A fully matured tapeworm consists of a head, neck, and chain of segments called proglottids.

The worms don't have digestive systems, each segment of the its body absorbs nutrients by itself and makes eggs inside when it is fully matured.

Taenia Serialis has been found in a number of locations including North America , South America, Europe and Africa.

Evolution of the tapeworm - Tapeworms evolved from free-living flatworms, but they have undergone some radical changes. Along with the evolution of their proglottids, they also abandoned their digestive tract, opting instead to slurp up their food directly through their skin. They’re so weird now that scientists haven’t even been sure which end is which. Some people have suggested the scolex is the head of the tapeworm. But others have pointed out that while the tapeworm is still in its cyst, the hooks actually form on the other end of its body. What’s more, in related flatworms with recognisable heads and tails, the sperm-organs are closer to the head than the ovaries. In tapeworms, the ovaries are closer to the scolex.

Common Name - Tapeworms

Scientific Name - Cestodes

Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Platyhelminthes

Class - Cestoda

Order - Cyclophyllidea

Family - Taeniidae

Genus - Taenia

Species - Serialis