What are Acanthocephala?
Q: What are Acanthocephala?
A: Acanthocephala are a group of parasitic worms that are modified rotifers.
Q: Why are they sometimes called thorny-headed worms or spiny-headed worms?
A: They are sometimes called thorny-headed worms or spiny-headed worms because they have an evertable proboscis armed with spines, which they use to pierce and hold the gut wall of the host.
Q: How do Acanthocephalans absorb nutrients?
A: Acanthocephalans have no gut and absorb nutrients directly from the host’s gut.
Q: What kind of hosts do Acanthocephalans have in their life cycle?
A: Acanthocephalans have complex life cycles, with various hosts, including invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
Q: How many species of Acanthocephala have been described?
A: About 1150 species of Acanthocephala have been described.
Q: What have recent genome analysis shown about the Acanthocephala?
A: Recent genome analysis has shown that the Acanthocephala are closely related to rotifers, indicating that all parasites are derived from free-living forms.
Q: What is the future taxonomic rank that spiny-headed worms will probably be placed in?
A: In due course, spiny-headed worms will probably be placed in a taxonomic rank below phylum, such as sub-phylum or class.
