Turbellarian taxonomic database

Haplogonaria amarilla Diagnosis


Mature, living specimens up to 650 µm long and 150 µm wide (Figs. 1A, 2).  Preserved specimens 
contracted to approximately 360 µm long and 140 µm wide (Figs. 1B, 3). Body cylindrical.  
Anterior and posterior ends rounded.  Body color yellow by transmitted light. 
Epidermis completely ciliated.  Many large rhabdoid glands present; mostly concentrated at 
anterior end (Figs. 1, 2).
	Musculature with circular muscles that encircle the body along entire length of 
animal; straight longitudinal muscles present between frontal organ and anterior edge 
of mouth; longitudinal-cross-over muscles (fibers with a longitudinal orientation 
anteriorly, but bend medially to cross diagonally) present in both dorsal and ventral 
body wall; anterior end with ventral diagonal muscles positioned between outer circular 
and inner longitudinal muscles (Fig. 3A)
	Frontal organ well developed; cell bodies of frontal glands positioned ~100 µm 
behind frontal pore (Fig. 1B, 2B). 
	Mouth opening on ventral surface, middle of body.  Digestive central syncytium 
extends from posterior end of frontal glands to level of seminal vesicle.
	Ovary presumed to be unpaired, ventral; no more than two eggs—positioned 
medially—discernible in live and sectioned material (Figs. 1, 2A, C).
	Testes paired, dorsal, compact; separate from ovary.  Testes extend anteriorly 
to level of mouth and posteriorly to male copulatory organ.
	Common gonopore on ventral surface opens anteriorly to sperm-filled seminal 
vesicle composed of thin layer of muscle and surrounded on ventral and posterior sides 
by several conspicuous nuclei (Figs. 1B, 2B, 3B).
Gonopore opens posteriorly to ill-defined, weak-walled vagina that runs anteriorly 
over dorsal side of seminal vesicle to sperm-filled seminal bursa; bursa with 
well-developed bursal wall (Figs. 1B, 2B). 

[From Hooge MD, Eppinger N (2005): 2-6]


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