Pronounciation: a-kan-THEL-a.

Etymology: The name is a diminutive of acanthus (a Latin form of the Greek word akanthos) which means spiny. Literally, it means the little spiny one.

An acanthella (n.) is a larval stage of the Acanthocephalan parasite that follows the acanthor and develops within the intermediate host.

©Biodidac

By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 01/13/2009