Which of the following scenarios is representative of parasitism?
a.
tapeworms living in a mammal’s intestinal tract
b.
remora fish attaching themselves to sharks
c.
birds feeding on insects stirred up by grazing animals
d.
birds eating scraps of food from a crocodile’s teeth

Tapeworms living in a mammal’s intestinal tract. (Ans. A)

Explanation:

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms of animals or plants in which one organism get benefits from other without killing the other organism.

Tapeworms are in symbiotic relationship with mammals. They are segmented flatworms in structure. They attached to the intestines by their strong hooks to the lining of the mammals small intestines like cow, pigs, and humans. Tapeworm get partially digested foods from the mammals(host) without killing the host. Tapeworm contains large surface area to absorption the food.

So the option A is representative of parasitism.

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