What is a host of a flatworm?

Answer 1

A host of a flatworm is an organism that provides the necessary environment and resources for the flatworm to live, grow, and reproduce. Flatworms, particularly parasitic species, often have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, including definitive hosts where they reach maturity and intermediate hosts that support earlier life stages. For example, the common liver fluke uses snails as intermediate hosts and livestock, such as cows or sheep, as definitive hosts. The relationship can be harmful to the host, as flatworms may extract nutrients or cause disease.