This species usually infects pinnipeds; the semi-aquatic fin-footed marine mammals most commonly known as seals and sea lions.

[citation needed] Within the crustacean a spindle-shaped embryo is released from the eggs and then subsequently develops into an acanthella, the juvenile infective form of an acanthocephalan.

The acanthella then moves into the body cavity via the gut wall, encysts within and begins developing into the infective form known as a cystacanth.

After sexual maturation, the adult worms mate, the embryos develop within the female and the life cycle repeats.

Likewise, since seals and sea lions share a comparable physiological similarity with penguins, cross species infection is more than possible.