Egg shell ultrastructure of the fish nematode Huffmanela huffmani (Trichosomoididae)

Abstract

The egg shell of Huffmanela huffmani Moravec, 1987 forms three main layers: an outer vitelline layer, a middle chitinous layer, and an inner lipid layer. The vitelline layer, forming the superficial projections of the egg shell, comprises two parts: an outer electron-dense, and an inner electron-lucid part. The chitinous layer is differentiated into three parts: an outer homogenous electron-dense part, a lamellated part, and an inner electron-dense net-like part. The lipid layer comprises an outer net-like electron-lucid part, and an inner homogenous electron-lucid part. The polar plugs are formed by electron-lucid material with fine electron-dense fibrils.