The Life-History and Systematic Relations of the Mesozoa

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Abstract
Review of previous information on the morphology, physiology, and development of the mesozoa, together with observations on the free-living larval stages of the orthonectids and dicyemids, affords information concerning the as yet unknown intermediate host in the life-cycle of the dicyemids. Evidence is presented to show that the simplicity of the mesozoa is secondary and that these organisms should be included as a class of the Platyhelminthes. Members of that phylum became parasites of invertebrates in early geological time and it is probable that the mesozoa are surviving representatives of that association. It is possible to derive each existing group of Platyhelminthes from a hypothetical, generalized, planuloid progenitor.

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