| Species |
Size |
Shape |
Suckers
No. |
Appearance |
Other |
| Taenia solium |
Approximately 1 mm in diameter. |
Globular or rounded. |
4
|
Cup-like. |
Double row of 25-30 large and small
brown chitinous hooks arranged around a rostellum (small projection) at the top of the scolex. |
| Taenia saginata |
1 to 2 mm in diameter. |
Rounded or slightly pyriform. |
4 |
Cup-like. |
Does not have a rostellum or hooks. |
| Diphyllobothrium latum |
2 to 3 mm in length × 1 mm wide. |
Almond-shaped or spatulate. |
2 |
Grooves.
|
Does not have a rostellum or hooks. Deep
grooves (suckers) are located dorsally and centrally on the scolex, but often appear to be lateral. |
| Dipylidium caninum |
0.35 × 0.37 mm. |
Rhomboid or rounded. |
4 |
Oval, cup-like. |
Prominent conical or ovoid rostellum
with 30-150 small thorn-shaped hooks arranged in several rows (1-7 rows). Rostellum may be
retracted into a depression at the upper margin of the scolex. |
| Hymenolepis nana |
0.3 mm in diameter. |
Globular. |
4 |
Cup-like. |
Retractile rostellum with a single row
of 20 to 30 hooks. |
| Hymenolepis diminuta |
0.2-0.4 mm in diameter. |
Globular or club-shaped. |
4 |
Cup-like. |
Rudimentary apical rostellum without
hooks. |
