A flea is a tiny wingless insect with a flat body designed to easily navigate through

animal hair. Fleas tend to live on furred mammals and have mouth parts designed

to suck blood from these mammals. The animals which carry the flea derive no

known benefits from the flea. Which of the following best describes the interactions

between fleas and mammals?

A Parasitism, because the flea is benefitting and the mammal is harmed.

B. Predation, because the flea obtains its energy from the mammal's blood.

Predation, because the flea may transmit diseases to the mammal.

D. Parasitism, because the flea is benefitting and the mammal is not harmed.

Question

Biology

Valerie

28 August, 14:31

A flea is a tiny wingless insect with a flat body designed to easily navigate through

animal hair. Fleas tend to live on furred mammals and have mouth parts designed

to suck blood from these mammals. The animals which carry the flea derive no

known benefits from the flea. Which of the following best describes the interactions

between fleas and mammals?

A Parasitism, because the flea is benefitting and the mammal is harmed.

B. Predation, because the flea obtains its energy from the mammal's blood.

Predation, because the flea may transmit diseases to the mammal.

D. Parasitism, because the flea is benefitting and the mammal is not harmed.

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Raquel Greer · Answer 1

A. Parasitism, because the flee is benefitting and the mammal is harmed.

Explanation:

Parasitism is when one organism which is a parasite lives on another which is the host, and gaining benefits from it and at the same time maiming havoc to it. Parasitism is common among living organisms. Animals are most times the host to a range of parasitic organisms which include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, also flea, tick, mites etc.

Parasites like fleas, tick and leeches live on the body surface of their host, which is make them ectoparasites while those that live inside their hosts are endoparasites.