# Beef tapeworm (*Taenia saginata*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/beef-tapeworm  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata) is a worm in the family Taeniidae, placed in the order Cyclophyllidea and the class Cestoda of the phylum Platyhelminthes. It belongs to the genus Taenia in the subfamily Taeniinae, and its scientific name was given by Goeze, 1782. Other English names for this species are cattle tapeworm and measly beef tapeworm, and the Catalogue of Life lists it as a living, not extinct, species.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Reproduction | Eggs |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Platyhelminthes
- class: Cestoda
- order: Cyclophyllidea
- family: Taeniidae
- genus: Taenia
- species: *Taenia saginata* Goeze, 1782

Synonyms: *Cysticercus bovis*, *Cysticercus inermis*, *Taenia mediocanellata*, *Taenia saginata saginata*, *Taeniarhynchus saginatum*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the beef tapeworm?

The beef tapeworm is a worm in the class Cestoda of the phylum Platyhelminthes. It belongs to the family Taeniidae.

### What is the scientific name of the beef tapeworm?

Its scientific name is Taenia saginata, placing it in the genus Taenia.

### Who named Taenia saginata?

Taenia saginata was named by Goeze, 1782.

### What other names does the beef tapeworm have?

The beef tapeworm is also called the cattle tapeworm and the measly beef tapeworm.

### Is the beef tapeworm extinct?

No. The Catalogue of Life lists the beef tapeworm as living, not extinct.

### What order and family does the beef tapeworm belong to?

It belongs to the order Cyclophyllidea and the family Taeniidae, within the subfamily Taeniinae.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/beef-tapeworm