Turbellarian taxonomic database

Microstomum gabriellae Notes


Marcus E 1950 (citation) pg. 104:  'An ample material of Microstomum gabriellae, n. sp. (Fig. 33-38) was obtained
at the island of São Sebastião in the zone of mean low tides, where the worms live among algae, chiefly
Sargassum stenophyllum.  In april and june 1949 they were all dividing and without sexual organs.  The
adhesive gland-cells (h) correspond to Wagner's description (1891), not to Hofstn's (1907).  The epidermis has
depressed nuclei in the ciliated pits and the anterior region of the body (Fig. 34, 37, v) and normal ones in
the rest (x).  The pharyngeal nerve-ring is closed as in Graff's figure (1904-1908, f. 36 on p. 2167), not
open in front (Kepner & Taliaferro 1912).  The nerves that join the ring to the brain (Luther 1904, p. 76,
note 1) are the ventro-lateral nerves of Kepner & Taliaferro.
Graff (1913) records records 9 marine species (listed on p. 24) Of these only M. groenlandicum (Lev.) combines
rhabdites all over the body wtih a photo-receptor, but the latter is a single median eye.  Moreover the
intestine of rgoenlandicum is provided with lateral, lobulated diverticles.  Of the 5 marine species described
since 1913, only dermophthalumum and melanopthalmum have eyes.  In the first species these eyes are epithelial
pits (in gabriellae pigment-spots); in the second they are black with a refractive cell that functions as a
lens (red eyes without lens in gabriellae).'

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