| Author Title Journal |
Ogren RE (1957) Developmental observations, the egg capsule and sexual maturity of the land planarian Rhynchodemus sylvaticus. Transact.Amer.Microsc.Soc.76:45-52, t.1. |
Abstract / Notes
Planarians were maintained in a moist chamber 140 days and fed liver periodically. Two new locations in New York State in silt loam soil were reported. Color changes, size increase, differences in sexual maturity and appearance of reproductive complex of the planarian that had laid an egg capsule were described. The mature worm had 6 pair of pre-pharangea testes and 6-8 pair of post-pharangeal testes. The pharynx to genital pore distance increased from 1.4 mm in 10 mm specimens to 2.14 mm in a mature 16 mm specimen with egg capsule. Egg capsule formed in 3-4 days in the reproductive atrium. After deposition in the soil it changed color from orange to red to black. The capsule, 1.5 mm in diameter, contained colorless vitelline cells primarily with a wall composed of outer tough layer and inner vitelline layer. Egg capsule hatched in 30 days to yield 5 triclads 3 mm long. Restoration of short anterior and posterior portions by regeneration was observed.
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