Entozoa

/ˌɛntəˈzoʊə/ noun

Definition

Plural of entozoon; parasitic animals that live inside the bodies of other animals.

Etymology

From Greek 'entos' (inside) and 'zoon' (animal). This scientific term literally means 'inside-animals' and has been used since the 1700s for parasitic worms and similar creatures.

Kelly Says

Tapeworms and roundworms are 'entozoa'—they're animals that live their entire lives inside other animals, which is a pretty wild strategy that worked for millions of years.

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