Turbellarian taxonomic database
Hoftherma hatsushimaensis Diagnosis
Living specimens up to 4.8 mm long. Uniformly pink coloured without body pigmentation (figure 1b). Bodyshape anteriorly rounded and posteriorly thinner (figures 1b and 3a). Body shape frequently changes by contracting andelongating when alive. Mouth opening subterminal. Eye spots not observed. Statocyst present dorsoanteriorly (figure 3b).Body wall with epidermis, outer circular and inner longitudinal muscles, parenchyma and gastrodermis present (figure 3b,c).Pharynx musculature well developed (figure 3b,c). Male gonopore opening ventral to mouth (figure 3d1). Male copulatoryorgan located ventral to pharynx (figure 3d1–3), composed of male antrum (figure 3d1), eversible penis with a penis stylet(figure 3d2, e2, f1), vesicula granulorum and seminal vesicle (figure 3e1,d3). Seminal vesicle enclosed in a thick muscular wall(figure 3f1,f2); seminal vesicle muscular wall with dense radially developed muscle fibres (figure 3f2). Testes diffuse (figure 3e3).Female gonopore absent. Eggs are ventrolaterally situated on both sides of pharynx (figure 3g); oocytes 75 μm in the maximum diameter (figure 3g).
[From Hookabe N, Jimi N, Furushima Y, Fujiwara Y (2024): 6]
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