acanthocephalan

a·can·tho·ceph·a·lan  (-knth-sf-ln) also a·can·tho·ceph·a·lid (-ld)

n.

See spiny-headed worm.

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[From New Latin Acanthocephala, phylum name : acantho- + Greek kephal, head; see -cephalous.]

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a·cantho·cepha·lan adj.

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acanthocephalan [əˌkænθəʊˈsɛfələn]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of the parasitic wormlike invertebrates of the phylum Acanthocephala, the adults of which have a spiny proboscis and live in the intestines of vertebrates

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) of, relating to, or belonging to the Acanthocephala

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acanthocephalan  (-knth-sf-ln)

Any of various, mostly small worms of the phylum Acanthocephala that live parasitically in arthropods as juveniles and in the intestines of vertebrates (especially fish) as adults. Acanthocephalans have a cylindrical, retractile proboscis that has rows of hooked spines and is used for attachment to a host. Also called spiny-headed worm.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

acanthocephalan - any of various worms living parasitically in intestines of vertebrates having a retractile proboscis covered with many hooked spines spiny-headed worm worm - any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae Acanthocephala, phylum Acanthocephala - phylum or class of elongated wormlike parasites that live in the intestines of vertebrates: spiny-headed worms