A genus of parasitic hookworms that attach to the intestines of humans and animals, causing serious infections.
From Greek 'ankylos' (hooked) and 'stoma' (mouth)—named for the worm's distinctive hooked mouth-like structure it uses to grip intestinal tissue.
Ancylostoma worms were a massive public health problem that killed millions, and scientists literally named them for their horrifying mouth—the hook-like structure is so specialized it pierces intestinal walls to feed on blood!
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