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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Xenocriconemella

Xenocriconemella DeGrisse & Loof, 1965 (ref. ID; 5832)

ref. ID; 5832

Diagnosis (emend)

Female body 0.22-0.33 mm. Annules 99-120, smooth or crenate. Head annules three, cap-like, continuous with body, rounded profile. Submedian lobes absent. Stylet 75-110 µm, 30-40% of body length, flexible. Esophagus about 50% of body length. Stylet knobs at level of, or posterior to, metacorpus valve. Excretory pore near metocorpal valve. Vulva lips small, rounded. Tail 11-18 annules, conical rounded. (ref. ID; 5832)
  • Juvenile female (fourth stage): Annules crenata. (ref. ID; 5832)
  • Male: Lateral incisures three, bursa small. (ref. ID; 5832)

    Notes

    Xenocriconemella was synonymized with Criconemella by Luc and Raski (1981), an action with which I do not concur. Xenocriconemella should be considered a valid genus, not only because of the long flexible stylet occupying 30-40% of the body length, but also because of the esophageal length which occupies 50% of the body length, and by the position of the excretory pore and stylet knobs in relation to the metacorpal valve. These characters readily set this genus apart from all others. Luc and Raski (1981) stated that submedian lobes exist in X. macrodora based on slide 28 of the SEM photo series offered for sale by DeGrisse. I fail to see any submedian lobes in this photomicrograph; small rounded pseudolips would be a more accurate interpretation. (ref. ID; 5832)

    Type and only species

    Xenocriconemella macrodora (Taylor, 1936) DeGrisse & Loof, 1965 (ref. ID; 5832)
    1. Xenocriconemella macrodora (Taylor, 1936) DeGrisse & Loof, 1965 (ref. ID; 5832)