Dipylidium caninum
| Dipylidium caninum | |
|---|---|
| Adult Dipylidium caninum. The scolex of the worm is very narrow and the proglottids get larger as they mature | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Cestoda |
| Order: | Cyclophyllidea |
| Family: | Dipylidiidae |
| Genus: | Dipylidium |
| Species: | D. caninum |
| Binomial name | |
| Dipylidium caninum (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dipylidium caninum, also called the flea tapeworm, double-pored tapeworm, or cucumber tapeworm (in reference to the shape of its cucumber-seed-like proglottids, though these also resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds) is a cyclophyllid cestode that infects organisms afflicted with fleas and canine chewing lice, including dogs, cats, and sometimes human pet-owners, especially children.