A scanning electron microscope study of the external morphology of Cristitectus congeri (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae)

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) makes possible an adequate description of the complex cephalic structure of Cristitectus congeri. Valuable data are provided for the definition of the genus, including the presence of eight cephalic furrows, four well-defined external papillae and four small internal papillae. Medial to the small labia are four very prominent sublabia with their corners fused with the labium proper; between the two labia on either side is a prominent pseudolabium with a conical protuberance whose medial face merges with the corresponding lateral wall of the buccal cavity. The males have 10 pairs of caudal papillae (four pre-anal and six post-anal) and two phasmids.