Journal article
A Jurassic acanthocephalan illuminates the origin of thorny-headed worms
- Abstract:
- Acanthocephala (thorny-headed worms), characterized by the presence of an eversible proboscis with hooks, are a diverse endoparasitic group that infect a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates1. Although long regarded as a separate phylum, they have several putative sister taxa based on morphological features, including Platyhelminthes (flatworms)2, Priapulida (penis worms)3 and Rotifera (wheel animals)4. Molecular phylogenies have instead recovered them within rotifers5,6,7,8,9,10, suggesting acanthocephalans are derived from free-living worms with a jaw apparatus (Gnathifera). Their only fossil record is Late Cretaceous eggs11, contributing limited palaeontological information to deciphering their early evolution. Here we describe an acanthocephalan body fossil, Juracanthocephalus daohugouensis gen. et. sp. nov., from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou biota of China. Juracanthocephalus shows unambiguous acanthocephalan characteristics, for example a hooked proboscis, a bursa, as well as a jaw apparatus with discrete elements that is typical of other gnathiferans. Juracanthocephalus shares features with Seisonidea (an epizoic member of Rotifera) and Acanthocephala, bridging the evolutionary gap between jawed rotifers and the obligate parasitic, jawless acanthocephalans. Our results reveal previously unrecognized ecological and morphological diversity in ancient Acanthocephala and highlight the significance of transitional fossils, revealing the origins of this highly enigmatic group of living organisms.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 5.3MB, Terms of use)
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(Supplementary materials, zip, 592.3KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1038/s41586-025-08830-5
Authors
+ National Natural Science Foundation of China
More from this funder
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/01h0zpd94
- Publisher:
- Nature Research
- Journal:
- Nature More from this journal
- Volume:
- 641
- Issue:
- 8063
- Pages:
- 674–680
- Place of publication:
- England
- Publication date:
- 2025-04-09
- Acceptance date:
- 2025-02-24
- DOI:
- EISSN:
-
1476-4687
- ISSN:
-
0028-0836
- Pmid:
-
40205043
- Language:
-
English
- Pubs id:
-
2117207
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2117207
- Deposit date:
-
2025-04-22
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Luo et al
- Copyright date:
- 2025
- Rights statement:
- © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025
- Notes:
- The author accepted manuscript (AAM) of this paper has been made available under the University of Oxford's Open Access Publications Policy, and a CC BY public copyright licence has been applied.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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