Definition of "acanthocephalan" in English

noun

1. 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.

adjective

1. In a manner similar to Acanthocephala.