Definition: The word "Acanthocephali" is a scientific term used to describe an animal that is characterized by its lack of trunk, or head, with only one ventral (rear) spine, and three dorsal spines. In other words, it's an animal with a skull that consists entirely of vertebrae and lacks the head and trunk. This type of vertebrate has been described in several families, including "Acanthocephala", which includes mammals such as deer, raccoon, foxes, and otters. The term is derived from the Latin word "acon-" meaning "in" or "within," referring to the space between two bones in a vertebral column. In this context, it means that the animal has no head with two ventral spines, which are like a spine within a spine. In summary, the Acanthocephala family is characterized by having only one ventral (rear) spine and three dorsal spines, making it unique among vertebrates in terms of its lack of a trunk or head.
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