EMBRYOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF THE ORDER ENOPLIDA, APRIMITIVE GROUP OF NEMATODES

Unusual features of the Enoplida have been revealed in recent years. T he type of enoplipds embryogenesis differs sharply from all other nema todes. The cleavage of enoplids is characterized by the variability in the blastomeres arrangement. No strict determination of blastomeres h as been revealed in the development of enoplids. Unlike in other nemat odes, the bilateral symmetry appears late in the embryogenesis of enop lids. Enoplids do not have eutely which is considered to be a characte ristic feature of nematodes. Enoplids are able to regenerate experimen tally destroyed internal organs if the cuticle was not disrupted. Thes e features suggest that enoplids are possibly more primitive than othe r nematode taxa.