Davaineidae is the name of a family of tapeworms that includes helminth parasites of vertebrates.

[1] Of the 14 genera recorded under this family, Raillietina is the best understood and most extensively studied.

Members of the family are characterized by the presence of a crown (rostellum) at the tip of the scolex, and the rostellum is made up of mattock- or hammer-shaped hooks.

[2] These tapeworms are most commonly found in birds, and in few cases, mammals, which are the definitive hosts.

[3] Hosts of Davainea proglottina (length 1 – 4 mm), for example, are chickens.