Echinocephalus		Contents		Rev: 11/01/2022
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Echinocephalus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Gnathostomatidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

Chromadorea

  Chromadoria

   Rhabditida

Spirurina

              Gnathostomatomorpha

Gnathostomatidae

Echinocephalus Molin, 1858

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

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Distribution:

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Feeding:

Parasites of fish and molluscs, including parasites of the spiral valve region of elasmobranchs (marine and freshwater stingrays and skates). The spiral valve region consists of  mucosal and submucosal folds that run along the intestine in a spiral pattern and increase the absorptive area without affecting the length of the intestine.

Because life cycles of species of Echinocephalus involve oysters, abalone and other molluscs as intermediate hosts,  accidental infection in humans is possible.  For exa,ple, Echinocephalus sinensis performs visceral migrations in a number of mammalian hosts.  Like other gnathostomatidae, including Gnathostoma spinigerum, species of Echinocephalus can pose a health risk for humans (Hoberg et al., 1998).

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

 Life cycles of species of Echinocephalus involve oysters, abalone and other molluscs as intermediate hosts, 

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

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Management:

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References:

Hoberg, E.P., Brooks, D.R., Molina-Urena, H., Erbe, E. 1998. Echinocephalus janzeni n. sp. (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) in Himantura pacifica (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and Mexico, with historical bogeographic analysis of the genus. J. Parasitology 84:571-581/

Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: November 01, 2022.