<p><span class="taxon"><em>Hymenolepis diminuta</em></span> has no digestive tract, all nutrients needed must be absorbed by the tegument, which is the external covering of the <a href="http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/Grzimek_inverts/Cestoda">cestode</a>. The cestode is covered in tiny posteriorly directed microtriches which increase the absorbtive area of the tegument. The glycocalyx found on the surface membrane of the microtiches is a layer of carbohydrate-containing macromolecules. Interaction between the glycocalyx and certain molecules has been reported to enhance amylase activity in <span class="taxon"><em>Hymenolepis diminuta</em></span>, inhibit the host trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatic lipase and increase the absorption of cations and adsorbtion of bile salts.<span> (Arai, 1980; Roberts and Janovy, 2000)</span></p>  <p><strong>Animal Foods: </strong>Body fluids</p>