Turbellarian taxonomic database
Lithophora Archimonocelididae Diagnosis
Lithophoran Proseriata with an encapsulated brain, a precerebral gut diverticle, intraepidermal nuclei, and with a completely ciliated epidermis. Ovaries are in front of the vitellaria, and are anterior of the pharynx. A long female duct, with the oviducts joining before the male copulatory organ, and with the female pore behind it (digonoporid condition). With a genito-intestinal connection close to the female pore, leading to a resorbing bursa incorporated in the gut. Testes in front of and also mostly behind the ovaries. Copulatory organ directed forwards with stylet and atrial needles, or with only a stylet. One or a pair of seminal vesicles behind the copulatory organ. An accessory glandular organ, associated with the male atrium, is present or absent. Horizontal, very long pharynx, with a prominent glandular proximal section. With cnidosacs (mostly) in one dorsal row.
[From Schockaert ER, Curini-Galletti M, De Ridder W, Volonterio O, Artois T (2009): 771]
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