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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Capitomermis

Capitomermis Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)

Family Mermithidae (ref. ID; 1770)

ref. ID; 1770

Diagnosis

Head expanded (bulblike), cuticle very thick, mouth opening terminal. Cephalic papillae six, amphid aperture small to large located posterior to level of cephalic papillae. Vagina short, pear shaped, vulval lips slightly elevated, without vulva flap. Spicules two, short with acutely pointed bifurcated tips. Genital papillae few, widely spaced. Tails of both sexes long, thin to an acutely pointed tip. Capitomermis was erected by Rubtsov in 1968 to accommodate his new species with a significantly characteristic spheroid head separated from the body by a constriction and with a very thick cuticle which comprised at least one-third of the total head width. (ref. ID; 1770)

Type species

Capitomermis crassiderma Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)
  1. Capitomermis breviovariae Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)
  2. Capitomermis brevis Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)
  3. Capitomermis crassiderma Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)
  4. Capitomermis delicata Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)
  5. Capitomermis micropeos Mulvey & Nickle, 1978 (ref. ID; 1770 original paper)
  6. Capitomermis variaderma Rubtscov, 1968 (ref. ID; 1770)

Capitomermis micropeos Mulvey & Nickle, 1978 (ref. ID; 1770 original paper)

Diagnosis

Capitomermis micropeos n. sp. is closest to C. crassiderma Rubtsov but differs significantly in the size of the amphids and length of the spicules (45 µm vs. 33 µm for C. crassiderma). (ref. ID; 1770)

Descriptions

  • Male: Mouth terminal, head area expanded, cuticle very thick. Amphid pouch very large, opening located posterior to cephalic papillae. Spicules two, very short, thin with bifurcated tips. Tail conoid to acutely rounded terminus. Genital papillae few, widely spaced. (ref. ID; 1770)
  • Female: Mouth opening terminal, head expanded, cuticle very thick, cephalic papillae six. Amphid pouch walls very thick. Vulva flap absent, lips slightly elevated, cone of vagina not well developed. Tail conoid to acutely rounded terminus, cuticle at midbody thin. (ref. ID; 1770)

    Measurements

  • Male: Body length 7.0 mm; body width 40 µm; head width 38 µm; amphid pouch 12x30 µm; spicule length 45 µm; spicule midshaft width 5 µm; tail length 170 µm. (ref. ID; 1770)
  • Female: Body length 8.0(7-9) mm; body width 70(68-78) µm; head width 36(34-38) µm; amphid aperture 5-6x6-8 µm; amphid pouch 7-10x10-13 µm; cuticle width at midbody 3-4 µm. (ref. ID; 1770)