| Trematoda | |
|---|---|
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| Botulus microporus, a giant digenean parasite from the intestine of a lancetfish | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Trematoda Rudolphi, 1808 |
| Subclasses | |
The Trematodes are a class of flatworms in the phylum Platyhelminthes. They are called flukes, and are internal parasites of molluscs and vertebrates. Most trematodes have a complex life cycle with at least two hosts. The primary host, where the flukes sexually reproduce, is a vertebrate. The intermediate host, which is the agent of dispersal, is usually a snail.
The trematodes or flukes are estimated to include 18,000 to 24,000 species
Images for kids
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Varied trematodes, from 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
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Trematode Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.