Table 1 shows the current classification of the inland-water gastrotrichs. The Chaetonotida contains 300 described species from inland waters, but many more species certainly remain to be discovered and described. Gordius dimorphus larvae are similar to previous light microscope descriptions. a The familial placement of the freshwater macrodasyids is uncertain. One large spine is present on the posterior portion of the postseptum. On the surface of each projection, 3 pairs of aculeiforms spines are aligned and lean toward the proboscis opening. The proboscis is retractile, dorsoventrally flattened, with 1 pair of forceps-like projections on its distal-most portion. Three concentric rings with 6 spines each surround the proboscis. This chapter offers information on the phylogeny, morphology, physiology, developmental history, life history, and ecology of Nematoda and Nematomorpha. Larvae have a cylindrical body, annulated and divided into 2 sections, plus an anterior preseptum and a posterior postseptum. dimorphus (2 males and 1 female) were maintained under laboratory conditions until oviposition, which occurred within long strings commonly referred to as egg strings.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze superficial features of Gordius dimorphus Poinar, 1991, larvae that might serve as generic or specific diagnostic characters.

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