Observations on the Morphology and Histological Anatomy of a Marine Nematode, Leptosomatum Acephalatum Chitwood, 1936, New Combination (Enoplidae : Leptosomatinae)

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Abstract
Leptosomatum elongatum Bastian, 1865 var. acephalatum Chitwood, 1936 is elevated to species rank. The morphology is described and figured for the first time for the hypotype female. Observations on histological anatomy which seem to be new for the class Aphasmidia include: dorsal constrictor muscle of the vagina; attachment of the retractor muscle of the spinneret; absence of a naked strip between the intestine and the rectum; a prominent inner "egg membrane"; large cells in what we have termed the zone of shell formation, possibly serving as activators of egg shell formation; a vulvar "plug", possibly serving as a valve. Unique for the sub-family Leptosomatinae are: complete description of cuticular layering in Leptosomatum and Thoracostoma, presence of bacillary and sub-bacillary layers in the intestine of Thoracostoma. and determination of the chromosome number (12) and nuclei of the esophago-intestinal valve in Leptosomatum.

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