Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Characteristics of a Tapeworm (Heterotrophic (live on other living things…
Characteristics of a Tapeworm
The Skin
tough outer covering that
protects against host's digestive juices
thick epidermis
many layered and perforated (having series
of holes enabling easy tearing along a straight line)
impregnated with calcium carbonate
digestive juices contains protease, peptidase, lipase, amylase, nuclease but no specific enzyme to hydrolyse calcium carbonate.
Heterotrophic
live on other living things in which they depend on for food
cannot feed, digest, eliminate undigested food particles
muscular contractions in the upper end of the gut of tapeworms cause strong sucking force to ingest their food into small bits
lack digestive systems
absorb food directly through body walls
attach themselves to intestine wall and bathed by dissolved nutrients
Sessile
cannot move on their own
main purpose is to stay attached to their host animals
attaches to inner wall of intestines with their sucker
Body Segments
Scolex (head) has several suckers
with some that have hooks
Neck - segment between scolex and proglottids
Proglottids are formed in the end section of the neck
proglottids near end of body form mature eggs
zygotes in the very last segment differentiate as the eggs are fertilized
zygotes are filled with embryos with each surrounded by shell
emerge from proglottid through pore or ruptured body wall
embryos leave host with the faeces
and deposited in water / leaves / other places
