Tapeworms: Cestoda
Broad Fish Tapeworm (diphyllobothrium Latum): Species Accounts
Physical characteristics: The strobila of broad fish tapeworms is about 30 feet (9 meters) long and has three thousand to four thousand proglottids. The scolex is finger shaped.
Geographic range: Broad fish tapeworms live in Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Russia, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Japan, around some lakes and large rivers in Africa, and in South America.
Habitat: The final hosts of broad fish tapeworms are fish-eating mammals such as dogs, cats, bears, seals, and humans. The first intermediate hosts are crustaceans (krus-TAY-shuns), which are water-dwelling animals that have jointed legs and a hard shell but no backbone. The second intermediate hosts are fishes. All the hosts live in or near rivers and freshwater lakes.
Diet: Broad fish tapeworms absorb nutrients from their hosts.
Behavior and reproduction: Scientists do not know how broad fish tapeworms behave. These worms make both eggs and sperm. Eggs
The final hosts of broad fish tapeworms are fish-eating mammals such as dogs, cats, bears, seals, and humans.
Broad fish tapeworms and people: The disease caused by broad fish tapeworms is one of the most widespread diseases caused by tapeworms. The symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, weakness, and in some cases, anemia (uh-NEE-mee-uh), which is a deficiency of red blood cells. The drug treatment is very efficient.
Conservation status: Broad fish tapeworms are not considered threatened or endangered. ∎
Additional topics
- Tapeworms: Cestoda - Dog Tapeworm (echinococcus Granulosus): Species Accounts
- Tapeworms: Cestoda - Tapeworms And People
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceJellyfish, Sponges, and Other Simple AnimalsTapeworms: Cestoda - Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Behavior And Reproduction, Tapeworms And People, Broad Fish Tapeworm (diphyllobothrium Latum): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS