Turbellarian taxonomic database

Convoluta enelitta Notes

Antonius A 1968 (citation)- complete description, illustration - diagnosis p 319-329.  p 371 Penis is 
	parenchyma type- with cilia but an intermediate special type.
 Appearance - 850 micrometers- enrolled sides but flatter at posterior end to a tail- body thickest
	over genital organs.  
	Color- light brown-green {symbionts- rhabdites- brown to honey-brown.}  Concrements on dorsal
		side.
	Eyes- pigment- red brown- star-shaped.
	Eggs, bursa, strings of sperm, etc. show also 
	Statocyst 25 micrometers- ?? by muscles.
-Anatomy - epidermis - insunk with nuclei below the outer muscular layer.  
   Epidermis to insider muscle layer - 4 micrometers - thinner around genital pores.
   Cilia 5-6 micrometers- rhabdite [Bush- small?] 10 x 1-2 micrometers-separate 
		elements 2 x 0.5 micrometers protrude outside - many on dorsal side- few or none ventral
   Mucous glands- fewer 12-15 x 8 micrometers.
   Frontal organ- concentration of mucous glands.
   Granular cyanophil secretin- a fine pore- anterior-dorsal.
-Nervous system- 2 ganglia anterior to statocyst with commissure.  Pair lateral longitudinal nerves 
   nearly bordering between epidermis parenchyma.  Pair ventral nerves.  
   Dorsal nerves with ganglia peripheral parenchyma.
-Muscles- Usual network of circular and longitudinal muscles with sphincter formed longitudinal muscles 
   and circular muscles around dorso-ventral muscles of parenchyma- a fine network except dorsal to mouth 
	 
   where is a muscle free area- a layer forms funnel shape around area dorsal to mouth.
-Parenchyma- epidermal outside of muscles- a network of fibers- cilia root zone boundary.  peripheral- 
   with einsunk epidermis nuclei, parenchyma muclei, symbionts.  digestive- plasma bridges with few 
   chromatin-poor nuclei- big vacuoles, biggest around reproductive organs.
- Reproductive organs- testes germinal zone- dorsal-lateral to statocyst- developing stages of sperm down 
   the sides- sperm blls but no fake seminal vesicle.
   Ovary paired- 2 parts ventral and medial to otocyst- large eggs inside sperm.
   Male copulatory organ muscular, glandular penis-- both surrounded by a
   sheath of muscle and parenchymatous elements.  Muscular, glandular seminal vesicle surrounds penis- 
   sperm enter at each sidde and form layer around inside wall except on ventro-caudal side.  Parenchyma
   and chromatin for nuclei in space between penis and sperm- these are a glandular cover for penis where
   cyanophilous secretion fills lumen of penis.  Pillow of glands secretion on dorso-caudal side of penis.
   function of muscle of penis- longitudinal muscles derived from outer wall muscle.  Diagram p 321, 322.
   Vagina- ventral part with gland cells, no real wall- but is a split in parenchyma- clad with weak
   muscles.  Bursa- wall as that of vagina.  Nozzle- matrix cells etc. 30 micrometers long.  Proximal end 
   with crown of mucous cell.
- Diagnosis- Penis, muscular, richly glandular tube, surrounded by a muscle seminal vesicle.
   a glandular packet on a trong muscle band is attached to caudal side of penis.  an elastic secretory
			forms this base.
   Vagina- long, small very glandular in ventral part and like the bursa a sort of cleft in the 
			parenchyma.
   Penis and vagina not ciliated and without stimulatory organ.
   Testes paired, dorso-lateral.
   Ovary paired with small eggs (40 micrometers), scattered.
   Brain- paired- ganglia frontal to statocyst and joined by a broad commissure.
   Lightly envolled sides
   Rhabdites yellow, 10 micrometers long and slim and composed of cigar-shaped elements.
   Round frontal gland reaches to statocyst.
   Epithelium einsunken.
   Color from symbiotic algae, rhabdites and concrements(whitish, on dorsal side).
   Red/brown star-shaped pigment at each side of statocyst.		  	
					
			
Antonius A 1970 (citation)- frontal glands - aid in capturing food.

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