Turbellarian taxonomic database
Lithophora Meidiamidae Diagnosis
Lithophoran Proseriata with an encapsulated brain, a precerebral gut diverticle, intraepidermal nuclei, and a completely ciliated epidermis. Ovaries are in front of the vitellaria, anterior of, and close to the pharynx. A long female duct, with the oviducts joining before the male copulatory organ, and 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 the ovaries. Copulatory organ directed forwards with a stylet and atrial needles, with only 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. Pharynx globular and directed ventrally.
[From Schockaert ER, Curini-Galletti M, De Ridder W, Volonterio O, Artois T (2009): 771]
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