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Author(s): Ricardo B. R. Azevedo (corresponding author) [1]; Rolf Lohaus [1, 2]; Volker Braun [2]; Markus Gumbel [2]; Muralikrishna Umamaheshwar [1]; Paul-Michael Agapow [3]; Wouter Houthoofd [4]; Ute Platzer [2]; [...]

It has been established that many, possibly most, nematode species are not eutelic in the epidermis. In this way, they are similar to other model organisms such as fruitflies and mice. This research involved determining the among-individual variance (Vi) of epidermal nuclear number in adults of 13 species of free-living nematode from three families. It was found that Vi rises with the probability of deviating from the species' canonical lineage. For a given probability of lineage variation, more complex lineages produce a higher Vi than simpler lineages.