Blood Flukes [Schistosomatida]
Description
The Blood Flukes, or Schistosomatida, are a unique order of trematodes, distinguished by their separate-sex (dioecious) nature, as opposed to the hermaphroditic nature of most trematodes. This order includes the genus Schistosoma, species of which are responsible for the disease schistosomiasis in humans. These flukes have a complex life cycle involving snails as intermediate hosts and vertebrates as definitive hosts. They are primarily parasites of birds and mammals, and some species are known to inhabit marine environments, especially those associated with estuaries and near-shore habitats.