Acanthocephala

noun plural

Acan·​tho·​ceph·​a·​la ə-ˌkan(t)-thə-ˈsef-ə-lə How to pronounce Acanthocephala (audio)
: a group of elongated parasitic intestinal worms with a hooked proboscis that as adults lack a digestive tract and absorb food through the body wall, and that are usually classified as a separate phylum related to the phylum Platyhelminthes

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Cite this Entry

“Acanthocephala.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/Acanthocephala. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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