Question

What are the peculiar features that you find in parasitic Platyhelminthes?

Answer 1

Hint: Platyhelminthes are also known as flatworms. They are parasitic, dorsoventrally two-dimensional, triploblastic worms and have the best developed reproductive system among others. Also, they lack respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems.

Complete answer: Taenia (Tapeworm) and Fasciola (liver fluke) are two examples of parasitic Platyhelminthes. Peculiar features that are seen in parasitic Platyhelminthes are as follows.
1.The body of members belonging to phylum Platyhelminthes is roofed by thick natural covering i.e., tegument. It protects the animal from the action of organic process enzymes and antitoxins of the host.
2. The body of phylum Platyhelminthes is dorsoventrally planar.
3. Members of phylum Platyhelminthes possess adhesive structures like suckers and hookers that are useful in derivating nutrition from the host body.
4. Locomotory organs are absent.
5. The genital system is well developed. Largely Platyhelminthes are hermaphrodites.
6. In tapeworms, the nutrients are directly absorbed through its body surface (the digestive system is absent during this animal). Hence, digestive organs are absent in tapeworms as a result of which digestible and semi digestible food is directly absorbed through the body surface.
7. Mostly anaerobic respiration is performed by parasitic flatworms (no specific respiratory organ found).
8. They possess substantial diffusion ability, as they'll board completely different media.
9. Well outlined Flame cell-like excretory organ is found in them.
10.The members of this phylum have parenchyma present in their body cavity.
11.They show self-fertilization.

Note: Some members like planaria possess high regeneration capability. The body wall is three stratified outermost covering stratum that is commonly rough and lined by a cuticle. Sensory organs are not much developed in phylum Platyhelminthes.