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Aspidogastrea facts for kids

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Aspidogastrea
Scientific classification
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Aspidogastrea

The Aspidogastrea (say: As-pi-doh-GAS-tree-uh) is a small group of tiny creatures called flukes. The name comes from Greek words: aspid means "shield," and gaster means "stomach" or "pouch." There are about 80 different kinds, or species, of Aspidogastrea.

These flukes are a type of trematode, which is a class of flatworms. They are closely related to another group called the Digenea. Aspidogastrea are quite small, usually between one millimeter and several centimeters long.

What Are Aspidogastrea?

Aspidogastrea are parasites. This means they live inside or on other animals to survive. They can be found in both freshwater and marine environments.

Sometimes, these flukes grow up and become adults inside a mollusc. Other times, they mature inside a vertebrate host.

Why Are They Important to Scientists?

Even though Aspidogastrea don't have a big impact on our economy or daily lives, they are very interesting to biologists. Scientists study them because they have some unique features that seem very old or "basal" in their evolutionary history. This means they can help us understand how different groups of parasites evolved over time.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Aspidogástreos para niños

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Aspidogastrea Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.