古棘头虫纲纲

Palaeacanthocephala is a class within the phylum Acanthocephala. The adults of these parasitic platyzoans feed mainly on fish, aquatic birds and mammals. This order is characterized by the presence of lateral longitudinal lacunar canals and a double-walled proboscis receptacle. The nuclei of the hypodermis are fragmented and the males have two to seven cement glands, unlike their relatives the Archiacanthocephala, which always have eight.