Phylum Acanthocephala (Noun)
Meaning
Phylum or class of elongated wormlike parasites that live in the intestines of vertebrates: spiny-headed worms.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The phylum Acanthocephala is a group of elongated wormlike parasites that live in the intestines of vertebrates.
- Parasitologists have long studied the phylum Acanthocephala to understand the unique features of these spiny-headed worms.
- Researchers found that the phylum Acanthocephala includes over 1,000 species of worms that infect a wide range of hosts, including fish and birds.
- The unique spines on the heads of worms in the phylum Acanthocephala help them anchor to the intestinal walls of their hosts.
- Scientists are still working to understand the evolutionary relationships between the phylum Acanthocephala and other parasitic worm groups.