Echinococcus granulosus
A Parasitic Tapeworm
Phylogeny
All of the following phylogenic trees are based on the similarities or differences in morphology between different groups or species.
E. granulosus is characterized as a platyhelminthes, an unsegmented flatworm.
The platyhelminthes are broken into the above orders and families. E. granulosus falls into the family of cestoda and the order cyclophyllidea.
The species of Echinococcus and its closet related relatives, Taenia, are shown in the above phylogenic tree.
The genus Taenia are a group of parasitic platyhelminthes whose adult form also lives in carnivores. The larval form exists in ruminant mammals such as cows and pigs. This genus is known to cause several human diseases as well as having simlilar habitats to Echinococcus. These species are similar morphologically and molecualarly as well. A good example of this is T. solium.