Turbellarian taxonomic database

Parotoplana moya Notes


Marcus E 1949 (citation) pg. 101:  'Parotoplana moya, n. sp. (Figs. 80-88), from the same locality, has one pair
of ciliated pits, a dorsal cephalic field of cilia, and a median ventral ciliated band extended beyond the
gonopore.  The nuclei of the entire epithelium are intra-epithelial.  Only in the adhesive cells they are
depressed.  Also the rhabditogenous cells lie in the parenchyma, as in Kata.  In Kata evelinae and Parotoplana
moya striated muscles occur.  Two prae-cerebral ganglia of P. moya resemble the "äussere Körnerhaufen" of the
Polyclads.  On the outside of each ventral longitudinal nerve runs a giant fibre (neurocord).  Such are not
yet known from the Turbellaria, but described from some Hetero- and Hoplonemertines.  Intra-central
conductions over great distances seem to be especially necessary for a worm that wriggles through the
irregular and shifting micro-caverns betweent hte sand-grains.  The intestine has a ventro-median furrow that
is bipartite in the pharyngeal region (Fig. 85).  Between the pharynx and the level of the ovaries the
club-shaped cells of Minot lie in this furrow.  Their different state in worms with an empty intestine, such
with one or two Copepods in the gut, and such with big pieces of fish-muscle, shows that the cells of Minot
are active in the beginning fo the digestive process.  The lateral diverticles of the intestine penetrate
between the reproductive organs like nourishing vessels.  The spinous apparatus of the male copoulatory organ
consists of two tubes, a dorsal one with 6 thick, and a ventral one with 18 finer spines.  Teh common
ovovitelloduct receives the cement glands at its ending.  Beside theopening of the male organ the canal of the
bursa goes out from the atrium.  The excess of alien sperm is resorbed in various bursal cavities, but these
do not communicate with the intestine.' 

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