Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Thorny-headed Worms And People, No Common Name (moniliformis Moniliformis): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS

Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - Physical Characteristics

Thorny-headed worms are parasites that live in vertebrates as adults and in insects and crustaceans as larvae. Parasites (PAIR-uh-sites) are animals or plants that live on or in other animals or plants, or hosts, without helping them and usually harming them. Vertebrates (VER-teh-brehts) are animals with a backbone. Crustaceans (krus-TAY-shuns) are water-dwelling animals that have jointed legs and…

Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - Behavior And Reproduction

When they attach themselves to the intestinal wall of their hosts, thorny-headed worms can cause serious, sometimes fatal, internal damage. In most cases, the more worms there are, the more serious is the damage. Female and male thorny-headed worms mate in the intestines of their primary hosts. Fertilization (FUR-teh-lih-ZAY-shun), the joining of egg and sperm to start development, takes place ins…

Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - Thorny-headed Worms And People

Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - No Common Name (moniliformis Moniliformis): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Moniliformis moniliformis worms are long, threadlike, and often coiled. Females are 4 to 11 inches (10 to 27 centimeters) long. Males are 1.6 to 2 inches (4 to 5 centimeters) long. The snouts of these worms have 12 lengthwise rows of seven to eight hooks. Geographic range: Moniliformis moniliformis (abbreviated as M. moniliformis) worms live all over the world. Habitat: T…

Thorny-Headed Worms: Acanthocephala - Giant Thorny-headed Worm (macracanthorhynchus Hirudinaceus): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Female giant thorny-headed worms are as long as 26 inches (65 centimeters) and are 0.3 to 0.4 inch (8 to 9 millimeters) wide. Males are as long as 4 inches (10 centimeters). The body is grayish brown with deep grooves on the surface. The snout has six spiral rows of six hooks each. Geographic range: Giant thorny-headed worms live all over the world. Habitat: Adult giant t…