Tapeworm segment (Proglottid)
Scientific Name: Dipylidium caninum (most common domestic species)
Order & Family: Order: Cyclophyllidea; Family: Dipylidiidae
Size: 3 mm to 12 mm in length (roughly the size of a grain of rice)
Natural Habitat
Intestines of mammals (dogs, cats, humans); shed segments are found in bedding, fur, or feces.
Diet & Feeding
Absorbs nutrients directly from the host's digestive tract.
Behavior Patterns
Segments break off from the main worm and are mobile when fresh, crawling like a maggot to escape the anus or feces to distribute eggs. They eventually dry up into hard, yellow-gold specks.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Parasitic infection in pets and occasionally humans (Zoonosis), typically transmitted via accidental ingestion of an infected flea. No known benefits; requires veterinary treatment for host recovery.
Identified on: 12/28/2025