The epidermis and sensory organs of Dugesia tigrina (Turbellaria: Tricladida)

Abstract

The epidermis of D. tigrina was examined using the scanning electron microscope. Both dorsal and ventral surfaces are extremely irregular in contour, as well as being permeated by large numbers of pores. Cilia are restricted to the ventral surface, the auricles and that part of the dorsum adjacent to the auricles. Club-shaped receptors, as well as cilia, were seen in the auricles. The epidermis anteriad to the eyespots is indistinguishable from that covering the remainder of the dorsal surface. Light rays could not enter the eyespot through this rough epidermal surface without becoming diffracted in an irregular fashion. It was therefore concluded that visual image perception is not a function of the planarian eyespot.