Question

Distinguish between ectoparasites and endoparasites.

Answer 1

Parasites are organisms that utilize another organism for their nourishment and growth. The organism that the parasite takes advantage of for their own benefit is called the host. The parasite either harms the host or causes disease in them. They either can depend on the host for completing their entire life cycle or can complete their life cycle independently.

Complete answer: Parasites can be distinguished on the basis of the region they occupy on the host. Based on this property they are divided into ectoparasites and endoparasites.

Ectoparasite	Endoparasite
Ectoparasites are those that live on the surface of the host.	Endoparasites are those that live inside the host.
They can be temporary, intermittent or permanent residents of the host.	They are mostly permanent residents of the host.
Their mode of respiration is mostly aerobic.	Their mode of respiration is mostly anaerobic.
They cause less damage to the host as compared to ectoparasite.	They cause more severe damage to the host and might lead to its death.
Since they live on the surface they are affected by external environmental factors.	They live inside the host and thus are not affected by external environmental factors.
They are safe from the host’s immune system.	They have to evade the host’s immune system for their survival.
Examples include mosquito, leech, ticks.	Examples include tapeworm, protozoan.

Note:
Thus the relationship between the host and the parasite is a specific one where the parasite needs the host and not the other way around. Hence the parasites have developed various means by which they can get benefitted from the host for their own survival and growth.