Palaeacanthocephala

Palaeacanthocephala (ancient thorn head) is a class within the phylyum Acanthocephala. The adults of these parasitic worms feed mainly on fish, aquatic birds and mammals.The nuclei of the hyperdermis {outer layer of skin) are fragmented and the males have two to seven cement glands unlike their relatives the Archiacanthocephalans which always have eight.

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