Abstract
Temnocephala novaezealandiae (family Temnocephalidae) and Troglocaridicola mrazeki and Scutariella georgica (family Scutariellidae) were studied by electron microscopy in an attempt to reveal characters that would indicate their phylogenetic relationship to other members of the Platyhelminthes. Ultrastructural features of the epidermis in these temnocephaloideans are like those of the neoophoran turbellarians. The epidermis is syncytial, is honeycombed by a multitude of gland necks whose secretions produce an epidermal surface film, and is underlaid by a thick basement membrane. Some cells in the parenchyma are compartmentalized by intrusive cell processes from neighboring parenchymal cells in a fashion similar to parenchymal structure in the Monogenea and Digenea. The spermatozoa have a pair of free 9+1 flagella and contain aligned dense bodies. The Temnocephaloidea is evidently derived from an early rhabdocoel-turbellarian-like ancestor.
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Bowman Williams, J. Phylogenetic relationships of the Temnocephaloidea (Platyhelminthes). Hydrobiologia 132, 59–67 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046229
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046229