acanthocephalan

• acanthocephalid

From Ancient Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos, “thorn”) + κεφαλή (kephalḗ, “head”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /əˌkæn.θəˈsɛf.ə.lən/, /əˌkænt.θəˈsɛf.ə.lən/, /əˌkæn.θoʊˈsɛf.ə.lən/
• Rhymes: -ɛfələn

acanthocephalan (plural acanthocephalans)

1. Any of parasitic intestinal worms comprising the phylum Acanthocephala. [First attested late 19th c.][1]
   • 1970, D. W. T. Crompton, An Ecological Approach to Acanthocephalan Physiology‎, page 25:

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

   • 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.

   • 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:

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

• (any species of Acanthocephala): spiny-headed worm, thorny-headed worm

acanthocephalan

1. In a manner similar to Acanthocephala. [First attested late 19th c.][1]