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Glite Dictionary
acanthocephalan

acanthocephalan

9.9
A parasitic worm with a spiny head tube that attaches in the intestines of animals like fish and birds
  • noun
  • /ˌækənˈθoʊsəˌfælən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : acanthocephalo
  • The researcher documented that the acanthocephalan was found attached to the intestinal wall of the fish.

Examples

  • Eighteen acanthocephalan specimens were recovered from the intestine of a single crow from Winder, Balochistan.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The following observations and measurements are given for the acanthocephalan observed in the intestine of the house crow.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The acanthocephalan was present in 1 of 6 examined hosts, with 18 worms in the intestine of the infected bird.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Scientists identified an acanthocephalan species residing within the digestive tract of a wild bird.

  • During the study, the acanthocephalan was observed using its spiny proboscis to cling to the intestines of its host.

Synonyms

spiny-headed worm
vsacanthocephalan
  • Specialized
9.9

A parasite that lives in animal intestines and can pull its spiny head back to hold on

focuses on a retractable spiny proboscis used to attach in vertebrate intestines

Surface Forms

acanthocephalan singular
acanthocephalans plural

Morphology

acanthocephalan = acanthocephala (opaque) = acantho + cephal + an

The word is formed by adding the productive suffix '-an' to the phylum name 'acanthocephala' to indicate a member or adjective.

Etymology

Acanthocephalan comes from Greek parts acantho- 'thorn' and cephal- 'head'. So it means 'thorn-headed', which fits because these parasite worms have a spiny head that can be pulled back and is used to hold on inside an animal's intestine.