Abstract
The fine structure of the anterior foregut of the tardigrade Milnesium tardigradum is presented. The oral region consists of a terminal mouth opening surrounded by six plate-like lips lying within a circlet of six prominent papillae. The buccal cavity is enclosed within a thick cuticular tube which possesses appendage structures, the stylet sheaths, stylet supports and paired protrusible stylets. Two large salivary glands envelop the buccal structures and contain voluminous amounts of secretory product. The arrangement, possible functions and phyletic significance of these structures are discussed.
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