''Mediorhynchus mattei'' is a species of

acanthocephala Acanthocephala (Greek , ', thorn + , ', head) is a phylum of parasitic worms known as acanthocephalans, thorny-headed worms, or spiny-headed worms, characterized by the presence of an eversible proboscis, armed with spines, which it uses to p ...

n, a parasitic worm, found in the digestive tract of a bird, the northern red-billed hornbill ''

Tockus erythrorhynchus The northern red-billed hornbill (''Tockus erythrorhynchus'') is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is found from southern Mauritania through Somalia and northeast Tanzania. There are five species of red-billed hornbills recogniz ...

''. Male worms are 2-3 cm in length, females are 3-11 cm in length. It was described in 1982; its name honours French

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and d ...

Xavier Mattei Xavier Mattei is a French zoologist; his research was mainly in the field of sperm ultrastructure, including fish and a variety of invertebrates such as flatworms and acanthocephalans. He is one of the most prolific authors in the field of spe ...

Hosts and localities

The northern red-billed hornbill ''

'' is the type-host of ''Mediorhynchus mattei''. The parasite was described from specimens found in

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

References

Archiacanthocephala Animals described in 1982 Fauna of Senegal Parasites of birds {{acanthocephalan-stub