Plectus longicaudatus Biitschli.

Allgén, C. A., 1953, Terrestrial nematodes from Jan Mayen, Annals and Magazine of Natural History 12 (6), pp. 665-688 : 671-672

Plectus longicaudatus Biitschli. (Fig. 2.)

Btitschli, 1873, p. 92, pl. vi, fig. 38 a-b.

de Man, 1884, p. 114, pl. xviii, fig. 73.

de Man, 1885, p. 8.

de Man, 1907, pp. 18-19, Plectus spec.

Brakenhoff, 1913, p. 294.

Steiner, 1914, p. 261.

Steiner, 1916, pp. 53-54.

Micoletzky, 1922, pp. 225-227, fig. 6.

Dimensions.- ♂. Body - length=l.0 7 5 mm., max. width=0.0 2 8 mm., oesophagu s= 0.278m m., tail = 0. 1 3 0 m m., α.= 38.39, β =3. 8 7, γ=8.2 7. ♀. Body -length = 1.140 mm., max. width =0-039 mm., oesophagus ==0.2 8 5 mm., t a i l=0.1 3 1 mm., α=2 9.2 3, β = 4.0, γ=8.7 0,

The body is o f nearly e v e n thickness from the posterior end of the oesophagus t o the anus and t a p e r s only gradually in the foremost p a r t o f the (esophageal region.

The cuticle is finely annulated. The head is rounded, a n d papillate at the front end.

The small buccal c a v i t y is cylindrical t o funnel-shaped. Lateral organs situated 16 t ~ behind the front end, simply spiral-shaped, 2t ~ in section, i.e. 2/9 of the corresponding head-diameter.

Esophagus elongated, thin, posteriorly w i t h a moderately large, strongly muscular bulb.

Although the tail seems t o be relatively longer a n d narrower than de Man has figured it, the specimens from Jan Mayen are rather typical representatives of this easily recognizable, terrestrial, long-tailed species, described first b y Biitschli in 1873 from " roots o f different fungi "

I n the male there seems to be a single tubular d u c t in front o f the anus.

Female organs paired, symmetrical, probably with reflexed ovaries.

I n a female was found an egg with the dimensions: 54/~ x 28 t *.