NEMATHELMINTHES. 



Body elongated, cylindrical, and not segmented. Many are 

 parasitic forms. Anus usually present. Coelom not filled with 

 parenchyma. The classes may not be genetically related. 



Class 1. Nematoda. 



]\Iany are internal parasites, but others are found 

 in fresh and salt water and in damp earth. Body 

 pointed at both ends. ]\Iouth terminal, anus ven- 

 tral. (Ascaris, Trichina, Gordius.) 



Class 2. Acanthocephala. 



Formidable intestinal parasites. Proboscis bearing 

 hooks. No alimentary canal. (Echinorhynchus.) 



Class 3. Chaetognatha. 



Marine, and all but one species pelagic. With caudal 

 and lateral fins and bristle-like jaws. (Sagitta.) 



ASCARIS. 



Animals belonging to this genus are common in the intestine 

 of the horse and pig, and are not uncommon in man. Examine 

 specimens and see if they have any organs that would aid them in 

 clinging to the intestinal wall. How can they retain their positions ? 



1. Can you determine which is anterior and which is posterior? 

 Is there any indication of segmentation? Can the ventral 

 side be told from the dorsal? 



2. Find the mouth and see that it is bounded by three lips. 

 Notice how these are placed and find the papillae on the ventral 

 ones. Find the anus and note its position. This serves also as 

 a reproductive aperture for the male. In the female the repro- 

 ductive aperture is situated about one-third back from the 

 anterior end. It can be seen only in favorable specimens. 



3. Open a well preserved or fresh specimen along the dor- 

 sal line and notice the definite coelom, and the straight alimentary 

 canal. If the specimen is a female, find the Y-shaped genital 

 prgans, the free, ovarian ends of which are slender and some- 



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