Cestoda Rudolphi

Santos, Cláudia Portes & Gibson, David I., 2015, Checklist of the Helminth Parasites of South American Bats, Zootaxa 3937 (3), pp. 471-499 : 476-477

Class Cestoda Rudolphi

The Cestoda is a relatively large, diverse group of parasites (c.8,000 species), almost all of which are found parasitic in the intestine of different groups of vertebrates. They lack a gut and absorb nutrients through their surface layer. The majority are long, tape-like and segmented, with a complete set of reproductive organs in each segment. They anchor themselves to the intestinal wall of their host using an array of different attachment organs (hooks, suckers, etc.).

Keys to Families

1. Absence of rostellum with hooks on scolex................................................... Anoplocephalidae

- Presence of rostellum with hooks on scolex.................................................... Hymenolepididae