''Octospiniferoides'' is a genus in Acanthocephala (thorny-headed worms, also known as spiny-headed worms) belonging to the family

Neoechinorhynchidae Neoechinorhynchidae is a family of parasitic worms from the order Neoechinorhynchida.Encyclopedia of Life www.eol.org Species Neoechinorhynchidae contains 4 subfamilies: Atactorhynchinae Petrochenko, 1956, Eocollinae Petrochenko, 1956, Gracil ...

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Bullock in 1957. A phylogenetic analysis has been conducted on an unidentified species.

Description

''Octospiniferoides'' species consist of a proboscis covered in hooks and a long trunk.

Species

The genus ''Octospiniferoides'' Bullock, 1957 contains three species. * ''Octospiniferoides australis'' Schmidt and Hugghins, 1973 * ''Octospiniferoides chandleri'' Bullock, 1957 * ''Octospiniferoides incognita'' Schmidt and Hugghins, 1973

Distribution

The distribution of ''Octospiniferoides '' is determined by that of its hosts. The species of this genus are found in Central America.

Hosts

The life cycle of an acanthocephalan consists of three stages beginning when an infective acanthor (development of an egg) is released from the intestines of the definitive host and then ingested by an arthropod, the

intermediate host In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include a ...

. Although the intermediate hosts of ''Octospiniferoides'' are ???. When the acanthor molts, the second stage called the acanthella begins. This stage involves penetrating the wall of the

mesenteron The midgut is the portion of the embryo from which most of the intestines develop. After it bends around the superior mesenteric artery, it is called the "midgut loop". It comprises the portion of the alimentary canal from the end of the foregut ...

or the intestine of the intermediate host and growing. The final stage is the infective cystacanth which is the larval or juvenile state of an Acanthocephalan, differing from the adult only in size and stage of sexual development. The cystacanths within the intermediate hosts are consumed by the definitive host, usually attaching to the walls of the intestines, and as adults they reproduce sexually in the intestines. The acanthor is passed in the

feces Feces ( or faeces), known colloquially and in slang as poo and poop, are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. Feces contain a relati ...

of the definitive host and the cycle repeats. There may be paratenic hosts (hosts where parasites infest but do not undergo larval development or sexual reproduction) for ''xx''. ''Octospiniferoides'' parasitizes animals. There are no reported cases of ''Octospiniferoides'' infesting humans in the English language medical literature.

Notes

References

Neoechinorhynchidae Acanthocephala genera {{acanthocephalan-stub