Phyllobothriidae

Phyllobothriidae is a family of tapeworms belonging to the order Tetraphyllidea. These parasites are characterized by their scolex, which bears four leaf-shaped bothridia, or suckers. These bothridia are typically muscular and adapted for attachment within the host's intestine. Phyllobothriids are found in a wide range of marine and freshwater fish, with their definitive hosts often being elasmobranchs such as sharks and rays. The larval stages, known as plerocerci, can develop in various intermediate hosts, including crustaceans and smaller fish, before being consumed by the definitive host. The life cycle typically involves a predator-prey relationship where the tapeworm's transmission depends on the host ingesting infected prey. Species within this family exhibit considerable diversity in size, morphology, and host specificity. Research on Phyllobothriidae contributes to our understanding of host-parasite coevolution and the ecological dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. The study of their taxonomy and phylogeny relies on morphological characteristics of the adult worms and their larval stages, as well as molecular data.