Development and life cycles

Embryological development and biology of the Acanthocephala occupied the attention of several early investigators. Most notable among these were Leuckart (1862), Schneider (1871), Hamann (1891 a) and Kaiser (1893). These works and others, including his own observations, were summarized by Meyer (1933) in the monograph celebrated by the present volume. For this reason findings of these early researchers are not discussed further, except to say that it would be difficult to find more elegant, detailed and correct studies of acanthocephalan ontogeny than those published by these pioneers. Since Meyer's monograph, many studies have been published on most aspects of the biology of the Acanthocephala. When comparing these, recurring patterns in development are observed. A discussion of these patterns is the main content of this chapter. The postzygotic development of the acanthor, acanthella and cystacanth stages are described first, followed by examples from the three classes, Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala and Eoacanthocephala. Finally, a table of all post-1932 literature references to intermediate and paratenic hosts that I have been able to find is presented.