title: The acanthocephalan fauna of Iran, a check list.
abstract: The acanthocephalan fauna of Iran is reported for the first time since the report of Pomphorhynchus perforator (von Linstow, 1908) Meyer, 1932 in 1964. The knowledge of the acanthocephalan biodiversity of Iran, with parasite-host and host-parasite checklists, is presented. The species of Acanthocephala are presented in alphabetical order, followed by the species of hosts, localities and references. A total of 30 known species of Acanthocephala from 21 genera, 12 families and 7 orders are reported from 80 species of different vertebrates of Iran. One species, Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser, 1811) Travassos, 1915 was recorded from humans. The group of hosts with the largest number of reported species of acanthocephalan is Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727 Polokwane, South Africa.; Email: sareh_tav58@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tavakol
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitic Diseases, 11445 E. Via Linda, 2-419, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA; Email: omaramin@aol.com.
authors.forename: Omar M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727 Polokwane, South Africa.; Email: wilmien.powell@ul.ac.za.
authors.forename: Wilmien J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Luus-Powell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727 Polokwane, South Africa.; Email: ali_hal572002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halajian
mesh_terms: D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D057189:Checklist; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology; D058507:Host Specificity; D007492:Iran; D010944:Plants / Q000469:parasitology