Hooge MD 2003 (citation) - This species was found in very large numbers along with another acoel species, Wulguru cuspidata. In having a seminal bursa that opens posterior the male copulatory organ Stomatricha hochbergi meets the diagnostic requirement for placement in the family Otocelididae. Additionally, the arrangement of glands and muscles of the penis in S. hochbergi appear similar to that described for Otocelis luteola (Kozloff, 1965). However, the overall shape of S. hochbergi, particularly the slightly inrolled sides, and its possession of zoochlorellae, are not features found in any other known species in the family Otocelididae and are more characteristic of some species in the Convolutidae and Sagittiferidae; hence the erection of a new genus to accommodate this species. By light microscopy the dorsal epidermis appears to be completely devoid of cilia; however, electron microscopy reveals that cilia are present on the dorsal surface, but only in limited numbers of perhaps 2 or fewer cilia per cell (A. Petrov, personal communication). While the absence of dorsal cilia is common among some rhabditophorans, such as otoplanid proseriates, this is the first report of an acoel having an epidermis that is not completely ciliated.
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