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/əˌkæn.θəˈsɛf.ə.lən/ · noun
Any of parasitic intestinal worms comprising the phylum Acanthocephala..
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.
That discussion of fish intestines is justified because many acanthocephalans have been described from fish.
Acanthocephalans are dioecious pseudocoelomate worms remarkably adapted to a parasitic lifestyle in that there is no mouth or digestive system.
Use acanthocephalan when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.
Acanthocephalan means Any of parasitic intestinal worms comprising the phylum Acanthocephala..
Common synonyms include spiny-headed worm, thorny-headed worm.
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
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.
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