Larvae and eggs are developmental forms of
Multiple Choice
algae.
protozoa.
helminths.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is helminths.
Helminths are parasitic worms that go through complex life cycles involving several developmental stages, including larvae and eggs. The larvae and eggs are forms of helminths at various stages of their development. Helminths include organisms like tapeworms, roundworms, and flukes, which typically have a series of life stages, including embryonic eggs that hatch into larvae. The larvae often undergo further development inside an intermediate host before becoming the adult worms that infect a definitive host.
The life cycle of a helminth can include both sexual and asexual stages. The eggs are often laid in the host’s intestines, passed out through the feces, and then can be ingested by a new host or develop in the external environment before entering another host. In some cases, the larvae can migrate through the body, developing into adult worms that mature in organs such as the liver, lungs, or intestines.
In contrast, algae and protozoa do not have larvae or eggs as part of their developmental processes. Algae are primarily plant-like organisms that reproduce through spores, vegetative reproduction, or binary fission. Protozoa, on the other hand, are single-celled organisms that generally reproduce by binary fission or by forming cysts under unfavorable conditions. Neither of these groups typically exhibits a larval or egg stage as part of their life cycles.
Thus, when referring to larvae and eggs as developmental forms, the correct answer is helminths, which are complex parasitic organisms with life cycles involving these stages.