Punahenlea
Punahenlea Nurminen, 1980 (ref. ID; 5783)
ref. ID; 5783
Punahenlea was proposed to include enchytraeid species with red blood and sperm sacs but which were otherwise indistinguishable from Henlea (Nielsen and Christensen 1959). These two "distinguishing" characteristics may vary significantly intraspecifically and even during the life of an individual. Blood colour or the synthesis and (or) concentration of respiratory pigments is frequently dependent on environmental conditions, although the genetic capacity to synthesize haem proteins may be taxonomically diagnostic (Weber 1978). Sperm sac size and development appear to vary with abundance of male gametes. Punahenlea includes species with dorsally and laterally paired intestinal diverticula and one species without diverticula, which is about the same variation in form of intestinal diverticula found in Henlea, but expanding the tubular form characteristic of Hepatogaster. Punahenlea species also have oesophageal appendages or irregular outline which may be similar to those found in Henlea species. Hence, Punahenlea is dubiously distinguished from Henlea only by a variably expressed capacity of three of the four included species to produce haem proteins. Punahenlea and Henlea are not presently distinguishable. (ref. ID; 5783)