Acanthocephalan (Noun)
Meaning
Any of various worms living parasitically in intestines of vertebrates having a retractile proboscis covered with many hooked spines.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Acanthocephalans have complex life cycles involving various intermediate hosts, such as crustaceans and insects.
- Researchers studying acanthocephalan worms discovered the crucial role of their unique proboscis structure in anchoring to the intestinal wall of the host.
- These parasites often alter the behavior of their intermediate hosts to increase the likelihood of being consumed by a vertebrate host and becoming an acanthocephalan parasite.
- Studies have found that acanthocephalans may be sensitive indicators of ecosystem health, particularly in aquatic environments.
- Parasitologists consider the relationship between the acanthocephalan worm and its vertebrate host as a model system for studying host-parasite interactions.