Proglottid (Tapeworm segment)
Scientific Name: Dipylidium caninum or Taenia species
Order & Family: Order Cyclophyllidea, Family Dipylidiidae or Taeniidae
Size: 3 to 12 mm in length (roughly the size of a grain of rice)
Natural Habitat
Intestines of a host (dog, cat, or human) and the environment after excretion
Diet & Feeding
Absorbs nutrients through its skin directly from the host's intestinal contents
Behavior Patterns
Segments break off from the main worm, crawl out of the host's anus, and dry up to release eggs into the environment
Risks & Benefits
Pathogenic risk to pets and humans causing digestive distress; requires veterinary or medical treatment for the host and flea control
Identified on: 3/7/2026