Question

both tapeworm and earthworm are hermaphrodites. how do they differ from each other with reference to fertilisation ?

Answer 1

Earthworm have both male and female gamete but requires another earthworm for reproduction. Whereas tapeworm can reproduce with itself.

I.e tapeworm can reproduce with itself while Earthworm needs another earthworm for reproduction

Answer 2

Hermaphrodites worms contain both the male and female reproductive organs in the same worm.

Although tapeworm and earthworm are both hermaphrodites, they differ in their 'mode of fertilization'. Tapeworm fertilizes through internal fertilization, that is, the 'male and female gametes fuse' within the same organism. Therefore, a single worm is sufficient to produce offsprings. In the case of earthworms, the fertilization is external, that is, two worms mate and fertilize each other. Hence, earthworms cannot fertilize gametes within themselves unlike tapeworms.