Intraproboscis
| Intraproboscis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
| Class: | Archiacanthocephala |
| Order: | Gigantorhynchida |
| Family: | Giganthorhynchidae |
| Genus: | Intraproboscis Amin, Heckmann, Sist, and Basso 2021 |
| Species: | I. sanghae |
| Binomial name | |
| Intraproboscis sanghae Amin, Heckmann, Sist, and Basso 2021 | |
The type locality for I. sanghae is Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas in the extreme southwest part of the Central African Republic. | |
Intraproboscis is a genus of Acanthocephala (thorny-headed or spiny-headed parasitic worms) that infest the black-bellied pangolin and the tree pangolin in central Africa. The genus contains a single species, Intraproboscis sanghae described from several females and one incomplete male. The body consists of a long, thin trunk and a tubular feeding and sucking organ called the proboscis which is covered with hooks. There are 34 to 36 rows of 6 to 7 hooks on the front of the proboscis and 15 to 17 spinelike hooks on the back that are used to pierce and hold the intestinal wall of its host. Female worms reach up to 180 mm long (mostly trunk) and 2 mm wide while males are smaller in all dimensions (based on an incomplete specimen). Infestation by I. sanghae can cause intestinal perforation and death.
This genus closely resembles the genus Mediorhynchus but differs in having mammalian hosts instead of avian hosts, a simple proboscis receptacle that is completely suspended within the proboscis, and a complete lack of neck. The first discovery of a parareceptacle structure in Archiacanthocephala represents an important taxonomic and evolutionary bridge between different acanthocephalan groups.