Ecology of the Acanthocephala

Commonly known as spiny-headed worms, acanthocephalans have a characteristic eversible proboscis, which bears rows of recurved spines used for attachment to the intestine of their host. Acanthocephalans are endoparasitic and an extremely successful group found in almost all marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, infecting a huge range of definitive (usually vertebrate) and intermediate (usually arthropod) 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 the huge success of this group of parasites. The acanthocephalans have evolved differently from all other groups of parasites, and as such represent a distinct and alternative pathway of parasite evolution and host parasite interactions. Written for parasitologists, ecologists and zoologists who are interested in learning about a different pathway of parasite evolution, this book is aimed at postgraduate and research scientists.