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Multiple Choice
Tapeworms are highly specialized worms that make their living as endoparasites. To which of the following phyla do the tapeworms belong?
A
Phylum Annelida
B
Phylum Mollusca
C
Phylum Nematoda
D
Phylum Arthropoda
E
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the characteristics of tapeworms: Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live as parasites in the intestines of vertebrates.
Identify the key features of the phylum Platyhelminthes: This phylum includes flatworms, which are characterized by their flattened bodies and lack of a body cavity.
Differentiate between the phyla: Annelida (segmented worms like earthworms), Mollusca (soft-bodied animals like snails), Nematoda (roundworms), and Arthropoda (insects, arachnids, etc.).
Recognize that tapeworms are not segmented like annelids, do not have a soft body like mollusks, are not round like nematodes, and do not have jointed appendages like arthropods.
Conclude that tapeworms belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes due to their flat, parasitic nature and lack of segmentation.