Allometric Growth in the Nematoda

Abstract

ALLOMETRIC growth has been studied, and shown to occur, in a large number of different animals; but the Nematoda do not appear to have been studied in this way. This is especially surprising in view of the simple shape of the parasitic members of this group and the extent to which the systematics of the group are dependent upon simple measurements of the individuals and of their constituent parts and, to a lesser degree, upon the ratios of these parts. In such cases allometric growth must be considered before too much stress is laid upon differences in ratios.