Question

What are ectoparasites and Endoparasites? List any three types of parasitic adaptations?

Answer 1

Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host organism and get its nutrition and energy from or at the expense of its host. Parasites are of two types-
1. Ectoparasites
2. Endoparasites.

Complete answer:
Ectoparasites live on the outside of the host. Example- human body lice
Endoparasites live in the digestive tract, body cavities, various organs, or blood or other tissues of the host. Example- plasmodium.

Parasites show adaptation so that they can receive maximum benefit from the host but without killing them. Though the host does get harmed by the parasites. Most of the parasites have evolved to be host-specific in a way that both hosts and parasites tend to coevolve. But sometimes the host evolves a special or protective mechanism for rejecting or resisting the parasite. Therefore, the parasite has to evolve the mechanism to counteract and neutralize them, in order to be successful to the same host species and to adapt to the situation and survive.
There are mainly three types of adaptations shown by Parasites-
- Structural Adaptations (Morphological and Anatomical Adaptations)
- Physiological Adaptations.
- Reproductive Adaptations

Examples of specific adaptations evolved by parasites their lifestyle are as follows-
- Loss of unnecessary sense organs.
- Presence of adhesive organs and suckers that help them to cling on to the host.
- Loss of digestive system.
- High reproductive capacity.

Note: Adaptation is a dynamic process.
Organisms undergo this process in order to adjust to the new environment. This includes establishment, self preservation, self-regulation, and race continuation.
The parasites, in their mode of life, also have to adapt themselves in ways that they can survive and adjust themselves with the body environment of their host and the degree of these adaptations mainly depends upon their intimate relationship with their host.