Classification of phylum platyhelminthes
Platyhelminthes have 4 classes.
PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES
Flatworms, bilateral ,and aceolomates ,
Class turbellaria (3000 species)
Flatworms of this class are mostly free living and aquatic .
External surface of body is usually ciliated ,
they are predaceous
They have rhabdites.
They have proboscis
Frontal gland and mucous glands are also present
They are mostly hermaphrodite
EXAMPLES
Convoluta ,Notoplana ,Dugesia
Class Monogenea (1,100 species)
Monogenetic flukes
Most of them are ectoparasite on vertebrates including (Fishes, Turtles, frogs, Copepods, squids)
One life cycle is present in one host
Have opisthaptor(posterior and usually complex adhesive organ of a monogenetic trematode).
Examples.
Disocotyle , Gyrodactylus , Polystoma .
Class Trematoda (10,000 species)
Trematodes all are parasitic .
Holdfast is present.
Have complicated life cycles have both sexual and asexual reproduction.
Subclass Apidogastrea (32 species)
Most of them are endoparasite of mollusks .
Have large opisthapter .
They don’t have oral suckers
Examples.
Apidogaster , Cotylaspis , Multicotyl
Subclass Digenea (1350 species)
All adult forms are endoparasites in vertebrates
They have two life cycles in two or more hosts
Have oral sucker and acetabulum(any cup-shaped structure, especially a sucker).
Examples
Schistosoma,
Fasciola , Clonorchis .
Class cestoidea (3500 species)
All worms of this group are parasitic having no digestive tract.
Have great reproductive potential (Tape worms)
Subclass Cestodaria ( 15 species)
Body is not divided into proglottids .
Larval form live in crustaceans
Adult form is present in fishes.
Examples
Amphilina , Gyrocotyle .
Subclass Eucestoda ( 1000 species)
True tapeworms
Body parts
1 head
Scolex
Neck
Strobila( consist of many proglottids )
Both male and female reproductive systems are present In each proglottids.
Adult forms live in digestive tract of vertebrates
Examples
Protocephalus ,Taenia , Echinococcus , Taeniarhynchus ,Diphylobothrium
