Flatworms used to be considered basal among the protostomes. On the basis of molecular evidence it is now thought that they belong in the Lophotrochozoa, except for the orders Acoela and Nemertodermatida, which are considered basal bilaterians and together form the phylum Acoelomorpha. Within the true flatworms, the following three classes, grouped together based on some characteristics of the skin, probably form a monophyletic group:
The remaining orders included in the phylum, grouped together for convenience as the class Turbellaria, are the following:
Most of these groups include free-living forms. The flukes and tapeworms, though, are parasitic, and a few cause extreme damage to people and other animals. All in all there are about 15000 modern species.
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