This order is characterized by the presence of lateral longitudinal lacunar canals and a double-walled proboscis receptacle. The nuclei of the hypodermis (outer layer of skin) are fragmented and the males have two to seven cement glands, unlike their relatives the Archiacanthocephala, which always have eight.
This order is distinguished by the presence of lateral longitudinal lacunar canals and a double-walled proboscis receptacle. The nuclei of the epidermis (outer layer of skin) are fragmented and the males have two to seven cement glands, unlike their relatives the Archiacanthocephala, which always have eight.