Rhabdocarpus (rabdokarpus)

[NL., Rhabdocœla (rab-dō-sēʻlä), n. pl. [NL., and simple. The body is cylindric (as compared with other flatworms), but more or le flattened; the sexual organs are usually hermaphrodite; there is no anus (see Aprocta ), but a mouth, the position of which varies extremely in different genera, and usually a protrusile pharynx or buccal proboscis. d In most forms the alimentary canal is distinct; in others (see Acœla ) it is not fairly differentiated from the general digestive parenchyma. There are numerous forms of this group, mostly inhabiting fresh water, though some are marine. They live on the juices of small worms, crustaceans, and insects, which they suck after enveloping their prey in a sort of mucus secreted by the skin and containing rhabdites. (See rhabdite, 2.) The group is divided, mainly upon the character of the intestine, into three sections: (1) Acœla, without differentiated intestine, represented by the family Convolutidæ; (2) Rhabdo cœla proper, with definite intestinal tract, a nervous system and excretory organs present, compact male and female generative glands, complicated pharynx, and general -C kbief IMG:content-2185.png:[blocks in formation] sion, based mainly upon the position or other character of the mouth, is directly into a number of families, as Convo lutidæ, Opisthomidæ, Deros to midæ, Me sos to midæ, Prostomi dæ, and Micros to midæ. Also called Rhabdocælid a. rhabdocœlan (rab-dō-sēʻlan), n. and a. [ II. a . Same as rhabdocælous .