Define ectoparasite and endoparasite and | Class 12 Biology Chapter Organisms and Population, Organisms and Population NCERT Solutions

A parasite is an organism which obtains its nutrients from one or a very few host individuals that cause harm but not responsible for immediate death. These can be temporary (which comes in contact with host for a short period, example: female mosquitoes like Ades, Culex) or permanent (which remains in contact with the host throughout their life, example: Entamoeba histolytica). Depending on either parasites live within the host or on the host, are classified into two categories: Ectoparasite and Endoparasite.   

Ectoparasite: Parasites that lives on the surface of the host are known as Ectoparasite. For example: some mites, lice on humans and ticks on dogs.

Endoparasite: Parasites that lives inside the body of host are known as Endoparasite. For example: Hookworms that lives inside the host’s gut, the human liver fluke (a trematode parasite).