Noun: acanthocephalan u,kan-thu'se-fu-lun
- Any of various worms living parasitically in intestines of vertebrates having a retractile proboscis covered with many hooked spines
"The acanthocephalan's hooked proboscis allowed it to attach firmly to the host's intestinal wall";
- spiny-headed worm
Derived forms: acanthocephalans
Type of: worm
Part of: Acanthocephala, phylum Acanthocephala
Encyclopedia: Acanthocephalan