Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

New Lateral Line Sensory Organs in Xenopus lævis Daudin

Abstract

DURING an investigation of a trematode infestation in Xenopus lævis a median ventral row of ‘lateral’ sensory organs was observed, which has not previously been described1. The observation was due to the nature of the infestation, and Fig. 1 is a photograph of a parasitized adult female toad. The parasites (Strigeid metacercariæ) encyst in all layers of the dermis beneath the lateral sense organs, and the position of these is emphasized by numerous large melanophores close to the cysts, while the rest of the skin remains paler than usual.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Escher, K., Acta Zool., 6, 307 (1925).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Paterson, N. F., Quart. J. Micro. Sci., 81, 161 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ELKAN, E., MURRAY, R. New Lateral Line Sensory Organs in Xenopus lævis Daudin. Nature 168, 477 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/168477a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/168477a0

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing