Ancylostoma caninum is the scientific name for which parasite?

• A. Tapeworm
• B. Roundworm
• C. Hookworm
• D. Whipworm

Answer: (C)

Ancylostoma caninum is a dog hookworm, a slender nematode that resides in the small intestine and feeds on the host’s blood by attaching to the intestinal lining. This places it squarely in the hookworm group, not among tapeworms (flatworms), roundworms (other nematodes like Toxocara), or whipworms (Trichuris). Knowing that the genus Ancylostoma is the hookworm group helps you identify the correct common name. In dogs, this parasite often causes anemia, especially in puppies, due to blood loss from attachment sites.