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ASCARID^ - 653 



Family 8. Mermithid^. 



Nematoda with a diagonal fibre system in the cuticle, without anus, and 

 with six mouth papillae. 



The male has two spicules and three rows of numerous papillae. 

 Genus. — Mermis Dujardin. 



Mermis Dujardin, 1845. 

 Mermithidse possessing the characters of the family. 



Subgenus (Agamomermis) Stiles, 1903. 

 A purely collective group, which contains forms sexually immature and 

 not capable of being definitely placed. 



(Agamomermis) restiformis Leidy, 1880. 

 Synonym. — Filaria restiformis Leid^^ 1880. 



In 1880 Leidy received from Woodward a worm which was supposed to 

 have come from the urethra of a man living in America. Stiles has re- 

 examined this specimen, and concludes that it is an Agamomermis. 



The cuticle is 32 to 48 jiA, thick, with a diagonal fibre system. The headend 

 is attenuated, and possesses a very small terminal mouth without lips, behind 

 which are six papillae. The excretory pore (?) is 0-442 millimetre behind the 

 mouth. The pharynx is straight, and opens into the cylindrical intestine, 

 which is a dark caecal structure; but there is no anus and no caudal papillae. 

 The tail is curved ventrally and bluntly rounded. 



On one side of the oesophagus there is a blind sac, which probably represents 

 the fat body. 



Filaria (?) hominis oris Leidy, 1850.— Perhaps this worm ought to be 

 classified here instead of under Filaria . 



Family 9. Ascarid.e Cobbold, 1864. 



Definition.— Nematoda with three lips, one median dorsal and 

 two submedian ventral, touching one another in ventral median 

 line; oesophagus with a bulb. Male with (one or) two spicules; 

 female with two ovaries. Oviparous. Development believed to 

 be direct. 



Genera. — -Ascans, Toxascaris, Belascaris, and Lagochilascaris. 



Ascaris Linnseus, 1758. 



Synonyms. — Stomachida Pereboom, 1870; Fusaria Zeder, icoo. 



Definition, — ^Ascaridae in which the oral cavity is surrounded by 

 three large lips provided generally v/ith denticulated borders, one 

 placed dorsally and two ventrally. Male with two equal spicules and 

 numerous pre-anal and post-anal papillae. Vulva in front of the 

 middle of the body. Shell of egg thick, with outer albuminous 

 layer often raised into numerous projections. 



Species. — -Ascaris lumbricoides, A. texana, A. mantima. 



Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus, 1758. 



Definition. — Ascans WiiYv reddish-yellow colour in fresh condition. 

 Oral papillae finely toothed, without interlabia. 



