| Paracanthocephaloides | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
| Class: | Palaeacanthocephala |
| Order: | Echinorhynchida |
| Family: | Arhythmacanthidae |
| Genus: | Paracanthocephaloides Golvan, 1969 |
| Type species | |
| P. chabanaudi Golvan, 1969 | |
Paracanthocephaloides is a genus in Acanthocephala (thorny-headed worms, also known as spiny-headed worms).
The genus was described by Golvan in 1969. The National Center for Biotechnology Information does not indicate that any phylogenetic analysis has been published on any Paracanthocephaloides species that would confirm its position as a unique order in the family Arhythmacanthidae. [1] P. chabanaudi is the type species. [2]
Paracanthocephaloides species consist of a proboscis covered in hooks and a long trunk without spines. [3]
The genus ParacanthocephaloidesGolvan, 1969 contains six species.
Found in Australia and has 14 to 16 rows of 3 large, 7 spiniform hooks on their proboscis. [4]
Found in Australia and has 12 rows of five to six hooks, two of which are large, and three to four are spiniform. [4]
Found in Australia and has 12 rows of five to six hooks, two of which are large, and three to four are spiniform. [4]
The distribution of Paracanthocephaloides is determined by that of its hosts.
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 Paracanthocephaloides are ???. 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 Paracanthocephaloides. [7]
Paracanthocephaloides parasitizes animals. There are no reported cases of Paracanthocephaloides infesting humans in the English language medical literature. [6]
Promoniliformis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Promoniliformis ovocristatus, that infests tenrecs in Madagascar. The genus PromoniliformisDollfus and Golvan, 1963 is characterized by possessing two distinct kinds of proboscis hooks. There is only one species in this genus.
Arhythmacanthidae is a family of parasitic worms from the order Echinorhynchida.
Acanthocephaloides is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Arhythmacanthidae.
Multisentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It contains a single species, Multisentis myrmecobius , parasite of the numbat from which it derives its species name. It was found in south-western Australia.
Neoncicola is a genus of parasitic worms containing nine species and belongs to the family Oligacanthorhynchidae.
Floridosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Tanaorhamphus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Tanaorhamphus longirostris, that infests animals.
Eocollis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Cathayacanthus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Pandosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Microsentis is a monotypic genus of worms belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Dispiron is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Hexaspiron is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
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.
Intraproboscis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans that infest African black-bellied pangolin in the Central African Republic. Its body consists of a proboscis armed with hooks which it uses to pierce and hold the gut wall of its host, and a long trunk. It contains a single species, Intraproboscis sanghae. This genus resembles species in the genus Mediorhynchus but is characterized by infesting a mammal instead of birds, and having a simple proboscis receptacle that is completely suspended within the proboscis, the passage of the retractor muscles through the receptacle into the body cavity posteriorly, absence of neck, presence of a parareceptacle structure, and a uterine vesicle. The proboscis is armed with 34–36 rows of 6 to 7 hooks anteriorly and 15–17 spinelike hooks posteriorly which are used to attach themselves to the intestines of the host. The female worms are up to 180 millimetres long, virtually all of which is the trunk, and 2 millimetres wide.
Mayarhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Mayarhynchus karlae, that infests animals.
Paraechinorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Paraechinorhynchus kalriai, that infests the rohu.
Paralongicollum is a genus in Acanthocephala, the thorny-headed worms, also known as spiny-headed worms.