acanthocephalan

plural acanthocephalans · alternative acanthocephalid

1. Any of parasitic intestinal worms comprising the phylum Acanthocephala.First known use First attested late 19th c.

   That discussion of fish intestines is justified because many acanthocephalans have been described from fish.

   1970, D. W. T. Crompton, An Ecological Approach to Acanthocephalan Physiology, page 25

   2 more examples

   2006, B. B. Nickol, Phylum Acanthocephala, P. T. K. Woo (editor), Fish Diseases and Disorders, Volume 1: Protozoan and Metazoan Infections, 2nd Edition, page 458, Clearly acanthocephalans contain large amounts of lipid and possess enzyme systems for lipid metabolism (Filipponi et al., 1994; Weber et al., 1995); however, use of these lipid deposits in energy metabolism is yet to be demonstrated.

   Acanthocephalans are dioecious pseudocoelomate worms remarkably adapted to a parasitic lifestyle in that there is no mouth or digestive system.

   2009, Dennis J. Richardson, Brent B. Nickol, “15: Acanthocephala”, in Carter T. Atkinson, Nancy J. Thomas, D. Bruce Hunter, editors, Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds, page 277

   Synonyms: spiny-headed worm, thorny-headed worm

alternative acanthocephalid

1. In a manner similar to Acanthocephala.First known use First attested late 19th c.