Studies on the cuticle of an annectant symphylid Polyxenella krishnani together with observations on its phylogenetic significance

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Abstract
The structure, staining and chemical properties of the cuticle of the annectant symphylid Polyxenella krishnani are compared with those of Scutigerella sp. The peculiarities in the cuticle of Polyxenella krishnani refer to the mode of stabilization of the cuticular protein by sulphur linkages and to the possession of an epicuticle not found in Scutigerella. These differences appear to be correlated with morphological characters like the position of the gonopore. The significance of such features of the cuticle of Polyxenella krishnani is discussed. It is suggested that Polyxenella krishnani may be representative of an ancestral type from which the extent Symphyla and possibly the insects may have been derived.

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