Problem
Threatened species of Platyhelminthes
Other Names:
Flatworms under threat of extinctionThreatened species of Platyhelminths
Endangered species of flat worms
Nature:
The platyhelminthes are a group of wormlike soft-bodied animals comprising about 25,000 species. They have no body cavity or special respiratory structures and respiration occurs throughout the body surface. The gut usually has only one opening which serves as both mouth and anus. The majority are parasitic, including the flukes (class Trematoda), the monogeneans (class Monogenea) and the tapeworms (class Cestoda), but there is a fourth class, (Turbellaria) which consists of about 4,000 free-living species. Many platyhelminths are dorso-ventrally flattened which accounts for their common name, flatworm.
Very little information is available concerning survival threats to platyhelminthes, as it is very difficult to obtain population estimates. Water pollution seems to pose the largest threat.
Broader Problems:
Threatened species of Invertebrates Narrower Problems:
Threatened species of TapewormsThreatened species of TrematodaThreatened species of Turbellaria Strategies:
Maintaining biodiversity of marine speciesConserving endangered species of invertebratesConserving rare flatwormsProtecting platyhelminthes Values:
ExtinctionThreat Subject(s):
Invertebrates → Helminthes, annelidaSocietal Problems → Destruction
Societal Problems → Endangered species
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
C: Cross-sectoral problems Date of last update
17.04.2019 – 11:03 CEST