ARGENTOPHILIC STRUCTURES OF THE MIRACIDIUM OF ECHINOCHASMUS-PERFOLIATUS (TREMATODA, ECHINOSMATIDAE)

Argentophilic structures of the miracidium of Echinochasmus perfoliatu s were described from material collected in the vicinity of Vladivosto k, Far East of Russia. impregnated with 0.5 % solution of AgNO3 miraci dium showed 21 epidermal plates arranged in lour rows: 6 + 9 + 4 + 2. Up to 23 papilla-like structures on the terebratorium were arranged al ong three axes and in lour groups A single papilla was located at the bose of each of ventral and dorsal epidermal plates of the first row. Two papillae were located at the base of each of lateral epidermal pla tes of the first row. The eyespots were located posterior to the first row of plates. Two excretory pores were located anterior to the last row of plates. The results obtained were compared with the argentophil ic structures of closely related species of the genus Echinochasmus.