Additional Notes

Since we both had a desire to expand our knowledge about unusual organisms, we decided to research Dicrocoelium dendriticum. We were intrigued to discover that little research has been conducted on this species.

Others should be aware of Dicrocoelium dendriticum because it can be found anywhere around the globe as long as the conditions and environment that is required for the parasite and its host to survive are present.

Like its flatworm relatives, an interesting feature of Dicrocoelium dendriticum that was not thoroughly explained in other parts of the website is that it has a very thin tegument, which conveniently allows for diffusion of water and other essential nutrients. In the absence of a coelem, the internal regions of flatworm are filled with mesoderm and a spongy mass of parenchyma.

In addition, these remarkable creatures are the masters of maximizing surface area, by which they have evolved to be extremely flat and wide, relative to their size, in order to absorb as many nutrients as possible.