Amphilinidae is a family of parasitic flatworms of the phylum Platyhelminthes. It is the only family in the monotypic order Amphilinidea. Amphilinids are Cestodes, yet differ from true tapeworms (Eucestoda) as their bodies are unsegmented and not divided into proglottids.[2] "Amphilinids are large worms which have a flattened leaf-like body. Only 8 amphilinid species are known."[3] "The adults are hermaphroditic. A muscular proboscis is located at the anterior end, and is sometimes very weakly developed or absent."[4] They live in the body cavities of freshwater turtles and teleost fish as adults, and in the bodies of various crustaceans as juveniles.[5] Apart from a little studied parasitism of sturgeon, these flatworms have very little economic importance. Biologically, they have gained attention for their potential to shed light on the phylogeny of tapeworms.[3]

Amphilinidae
Australamphilina elongata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Cestoda
Subclass: Cestodaria
Order: Amphilinidea
Poche, 1922 [1]
Family: Amphilinidae
Claus, 1879
Genera

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Synonyms
  • Schizochoeridae Poche, 1922

Subordinate taxa

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References

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  1. ^ Rod Bray (2010). "Amphilinidea". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  2. ^ Klaus Rohde (June 2, 2011). "The Amphilinidea, a small group of aberrant tapeworms". Knol. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Klaus Rohde. "Amphilinidea. Amphilinidae. Version 05". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Klaus Rohde. "Amphilinidea". AccessScience. McGraw-Hill. doi:10.1036/1097-8542.030100. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  5. ^ Klaus Rohde. "Amphilinidea life cycles". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved December 6, 2011.