Ecology of the Acanthocephala

Commonly known as spiny-headed worms, the name acanthocephalan is derived from the characteristic eversible proboscis, which bears rows of recurved spines, used for attachment to the intestine of the host. Acanthocephalans are endoparasitic and are an extremely successful group found in almost all marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, infecting a huge range of vertebrate definitive hosts and arthropod intermediate hosts, during their life cycles. This volume is concerned with the ecology (distribution and abundance) of the Acanthocephala, and through this approach aims to reveal and explain the huge success of this group of parasites. The acanthocephalans have evolved differently from all other groups of parasites, and demonstrate a distinct and alternative pathway of parasite evolution and host-parasite interactions. Written for parasitologists, ecologists, freshwater biologists and zoologists who are interested in learning about a different pathway of parasite evolution, this book is aimed at post-graduate and research scientists. Book jacket.

C. R. Kennedy is Emeritus Professor of Parasitology at the University of Exeter