The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 2 (of 4) : $b A treatise on comparative embryology: InvertebrataBalfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Science
The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 2 (of 4) : $b A treatise on comparative embryology: Invertebrata
Balfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Embryology; Zoology
The spherical bodies grow rapidly in size, their posterior extremity
is prolonged into a process which forms the tail, while the anterior
part forms the trunk. When fully formed (fig. 95 E), the trunk has
very much the organization of an adult Distomum. There is an anterior
and a ventral sucker, the former of which contains the opening of the
mouth, and is often provided with a special chitinous armature. The
mouth leads into a muscular pharynx, and this into a bilobed cæcal
alimentary tract. An excretory system of the ordinary type is present,
consisting of longitudinal contractile trunks continuous anteriorly
with branched ciliated canals, which, as has recently been shewn by
Bütschli, may be provided with funnel-shaped ciliated internal
openings[94]. The contractile trunks unite posteriorly, but instead of
opening directly to the exterior are prolonged into a vessel which
traverses the substance of the tail, and after a longer or shorter
course bifurcates into two branches which open laterally.
[94] O. Bütschli, "Bemerkungen üb. d. excretorischen
Gefässapparat d. Trematoden." _Zoologischer Anzeiger_, 1879,
No. 42.
The tail is provided with an axial rod of hyaline connective tissue,
like the notochord of the tail of a larval Ascidian, and is frequently
provided with membranous expansions. It is used as a swimming organ.
Beneath the epidermis are layers of circular and longitudinal muscular
fibres, the latter arranged in the tail as two bands.
The Cercariæ when fully developed leave the Sporocyst or Redia, and
then their host, and become free. In most Rediæ there is a special
opening, not far from the mouth, by which they pass out. There is no
such opening in Sporocysts, but the Cercariæ bore their way through
the walls.
After leaving their parent the Cercariæ pass into the external medium,
and for a short period have a free existence. They soon however enter
a new host, making their way into its body by a process of boring,
which is effected by the head (especially when armed with chitinous
processes) assisted by movements of the tail.
The second host is usually some Invertebrate (Mollusc, Worm,
Crustacean, Insect larva, &c.), but occasionally a Fish or Amphibian
or even a vegetable. The tail is very often lost as the Cercaria bores
its way into its host, but whether it is so or not, the Cercaria,
after it has once reached a suitable post in its new host, assumes a
quiescent condition, and surrounds itself with a many-layered capsule.
The cephalic armature and tail (if still present) are then exuviated,
and the generative organs gradually become apparent though very small.
In other respects the organization is not much altered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account