Flukes



Class: Trematoda (Flukes)
All trematodes or flukes are either endo or ecto-parasitic. Ectoparasitic trematodes develop directly in or on a single type of host and are said to be monogenetic, endo-parasitic trematodes  are known as digenetic.

Most trematodes are pale cream in color, but some may be slightly reddish due to engorgement of blood. Most trematodes are less than 30 mm in length; but some biggest species like Fasciola gigantica, 75 mm long and smaller like Heterophyes heterophes 2mm long may also be found. The body is usually covered by a smooth tegument (cuticle), but some times the cuticle may be spiny or scaly. The mouth is situated forward and at the tip of the body, the digestive systems is well developed and the intestine is bifurcated. Trematodes cling to the body of  host or remain attached to organs by means of organs of adhesion known as suckers. Suckers may sometimes be armed with hooks or spines. excretory pore is single in most case opening posteriorly and paired spending anterodorsally.   

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