ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATOCYST IN AN UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF LURIDAE (PLATYHELMINTHES, RHABDOCOELA, LURIDAE)

The statocyst of an undescribed species of Luridae is described by ele ctron microscopy. it is located between the brain and the intestine, s uspended on a cytoplasmic band, and contains a nucleus and three stato liths. The statoliths are surrounded by many mitochondria. Fibres from the brain enter the statocyst wall through dark lamellae with a lamel late substructure, and form part of the wall that contains many basal bodies with short axonemes which, however, do not protrude into the st atocyst cavity as free cilia. It is not clear whether intestinal cells contribute to the formation of the statocyst wall. Three small statol iths, also surrounded by many mitochondria, lie in cytoplasm latero-po steriorly to the statocyst.