Echinococcus larvae are protected by the laminated layer, rich in mucin glycans.

We describe the mucin glycans of the E. multilocularis laminated layer.

These glycans prove to be smaller and simpler than in E. granulosus.

The absence of galactose β1-3 chains explains all the differences from E. granulosus.

We propose a candidate gene for the taeniid-specific enzyme that synthesizes these chains.