Expanding Horizons in the Recognition of a Phylum

Phylogenetic Relationships of the Acanthocephala Inferred from 18S Ribosomal DNA Sequences

“…2, 3a, and 3b). The taxonomic hypothesis of Van Cleave (1948, 1952 (Fig. 1a) proposes a sister-group relationship between the Archiacanthocephala and Palaeacanthocephala, based on the presence of multiple cement glands in both groups.…”

“…The currently accepted classification of the Acanthocephala is an amalgamation of certain taxonomic hypotheses of Meyer and Van Cleave as modified by others (Meyer, 1932(Meyer, , 1933Van Cleave, 1948, 1952Bullock, 1969;Amin, 1985). Three major taxonomic groups were recognized as classes in the phylum Acanthocephala: Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, and Eoacanthocephala (Golvan, 1959a(Golvan, , 1960(Golvan, , 1961(Golvan, , 1962.…”

The Origins and Evolution of the Acanthocephala

“…The case for considering the Acanthocephala as a separate phylum was clearly presented by Van Cleave (1948), and since then most authorities have accepted and supported his view (Petrotschenko, 1956(Petrotschenko, , 1958Golvan, 1958;Yamaguti, 1963 ;Bullock, 1969;Schmidt, 1969). All known living species of Acanthocephala are endoparasites which attain sexual maturity in the vertebrate alimentary tract ; most appear to be confined to the small intestine (Crompton, 1975).…”

6. Acanthocephala

“…Golvan (1958) supported Van Cleave (1948) in treating acanthocephalans as a phylum but returned to Meyer's concept of 3 taxa that he designated classes (Golvan 1959(Golvan , 1960(Golvan , 1961(Golvan , 1962(Golvan , 1969. Golvan (1958) supported Van Cleave (1948) in treating acanthocephalans as a phylum but returned to Meyer's concept of 3 taxa that he designated classes (Golvan 1959(Golvan , 1960(Golvan , 1961(Golvan , 1962(Golvan , 1969.…”