Ardeirhynchus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
Class: | Palaeacanthocephala |
Order: | Polymorphida |
Family: | Polymorphidae |
Genus: | Ardeirhynchus Dimitrova & Georgiev, 1994 [1] |
Species: | A. spiralis |
Binomial name | |
Ardeirhynchus spiralis (Rudolphi, 1809) [a] | |
Synonyms | |
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Ardeirhynchus is a monotypic genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Polymorphidae. [2] Its sole described species is Ardeirhynchus spiralis (Rudolphi, 1809), which is found in Northern America. [2]
The genus was described by Dimitrova & Georgiev in 1994. [1] The original description of Ardeirhynchus spiralis was done by Rudolphi in 1809. [3] The National Center for Biotechnology Information does not indicate that any phylogenetic analysis has been published on Ardeirhynchus that would confirm its position as a unique genus in the family Polymorphidae. [4] A phylogenetic tree was created. [5]
A. spiralis consists of a proboscis covered in hooks and a long trunk. The genus is distinguished from Arhythmorhynchus, which is the most morphologically similar genus, in three ways: a considerably shorter neck, minute trunk spines, the distribution of groups of hypodermal nuclei in the anterior part of the trunk and in lateral rows along the length of the posterior part of the trunk, the position of the male genital system (which in this genus occupies the posterior 1/8-1/6 part of the trunk), and a terminal genital pore. [1]
The distribution of A. spiralis is determined by that of its hosts. It is found in Bulgaria (host: Squacco heron). [1]
The life cycle of an acanthocephalan consists of three stages beginning when an infective acanthor (development of an egg) is released from the intestines of the definitive host and then ingested by an arthropod, the intermediate host. Although the intermediate hosts of Ardeirhynchus are arthropods. When the acanthor molts, the second stage called the acanthella begins. This stage involves penetrating the wall of the mesenteron or the intestine of the intermediate host and growing. The final stage is the infective cystacanth which is the larval or juvenile state of an Acanthocephalan, differing from the adult only in size and stage of sexual development. The cystacanths within the intermediate hosts are consumed by the definitive host, usually attaching to the walls of the intestines, and as adults they reproduce sexually in the intestines. The acanthor is passed in the feces of the definitive host and the cycle repeats. There may be paratenic hosts (hosts where parasites infest but do not undergo larval development or sexual reproduction) for Ardeirhynchus. [8]
A. spiralis parasitizes the herons Little bittern (Botaurus minutus) and squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides). [1] The prevalence in the first host is 1.9% and usually only 1 worm is found. [9] There are no reported cases of A. spiralis infesting humans in the English language medical literature. [7]
The thorny-headed worm family Polymorphidae contains endoparasites which as adults feed mainly in fish and aquatic birds. When this taxon was erected by Meyer in 1931, a subfamily Polymorphinae was established in it. As the Polymorphidae as presently understood would then be monotypic, with no basal genera outside the Polymorphinae, the proposed subfamily is redundant for the time being and therefore most modern treatments simply omit it. Polymorphus minutus is an economically significant parasite in goose and duck farming.
Cucullanorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It contains a single species, Cucullanorhynchus constrictruncatus, which infests leopards in Vietnam.
Breizacanthus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Euzetacanthus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Spiracanthus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Spiracanthus bovichthys, that infests animals.
Oligacanthorhynchus is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Oligacanthorhynchidae.
Eocollis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Sclerocollum is a genus in Acanthocephala containing four species that parasitize fish by attaching themselves to the intestines using their hook-covered proboscis. These species have been found off the coasts of Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Palau.
Pyriproboscis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It is the only genus in the family Pyriprobosicidae.
Quadrigyrus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Southwellina is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Caballerorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Caballerorhynchus lamothei, that infests animals.
Rhadinorhynchoides is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Rhadinorhynchoides miyagawai, that infests animals.
Brentisentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Koronacantha is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Dispiron is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Bolbosoma is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Gorytocephalus is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Octospinifer is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Octospiniferoides is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.