Phaenocora sulfophila (Gilbert, 1938) Karling, 1956

Houben, Albrecht M., Steenkiste, Niels Van & Artois, Tom J., 2014, Revision of Phaenocora Ehrenberg, 1836 (Rhabditophora, Typhloplanidae, Phaenocorinae) with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 3889 (3), pp. 301-354 : 341

Phaenocora sulfophila (Gilbert, 1938) Karling, 1956

(Figs 11B1, B2, 15E)

Pseudophaenocora sulfophila Gilbert 1938: 193 –216, Figs 1–10 ; Marcus 1946: 70 –72, 75, 164. Phaenocora (Pseudophaenocora) sulfophila Karling 1956: 195 , 200, Fig. 5 p. 195.

Known distribution: near New Market (Virginia, USA), in a sulphur spring ( Gilbert 1938a).

Material examined: None.

Diagnosis: Animals about 3.5–4.8 mm long, colourless with pigmented eyes. Zoochlorellae absent. Male copulatory organ of the duplex-type IA. Female genital system of the AGLOBULATA - type. Large intestinal bursa communicates with the gut by means of a relatively long burso-intestinal duct. Genito-bursal duct relatively long. A large diverticulum, lined with a strong pseudocuticula and surrounded by a thick muscle layer, is connected to the superior genital atrium through its antero-dorsal wall. With tertiary lobes on the pear-shaped appendages.

Remarks: Initially, Gilbert (1938a) placed Phaenocora sulfophila in the monospecific genus Pseudophaenocora Gilbert, 1938 , mainly because he considered the male copulatory organ of this species to be fundamentally different from the copulatory organ of the other species of Phaenocora . As discussed in the COMPARISON OF SPECIES section, we found the copulatory organ to be of the duplex type IA. Additionally, Gilbert (1938a) mentioned four features that were only described for P. sulfophila : presence of tertiary lobes on the pearshaped appendages, presence of the diverticulum connected to the superior genital atrium, presence of a ductus copulatorius (terminology of Gilbert 1938a) with a high columnar epithelium, and presence of a large glandular papilla attached to the inferior genital atrium. However, the diagnostic value of some of these characters is uncertain. Tertiary lobes of the pear-shaped appendages were also described for P. evelinae (although this is probably incorrect: see remarks on P. evelinae ). Figure 3 of Beklemischev (1929) suggests the presence of a diverticulum in P. polycirra (also Fig. 16 F: div), which is situated at the anterio-ventral side, although he does not specifically mention this in the text. A large glandular papilla also occurs in P. clavigera . The presence of a ductus copulatorius is typical for P. sulfophilla . A high columnar epithelium borders the connection between the inferior and superior genital atria in P. anomalocoela ( Fig. 2 B: cc), but this species lacks a genuine ductus copulatorius. Typical of P. sulfophila is the short and slender female genital canal, which is widest in the middle. In all other species the female genital canal is widest at the junction with the superior genital atrium.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of live animals A, P. evelinae. B, P. foliacea from South Africa. C, P. foliacea from India. D, P. aglobulata sp. nov.. E – H, P. gilberti sp. nov.: E – F, pigmentation of the head. G, male copulatory organ. H, female genital canal.

FIGURE 5. Phaenocora evelinae A, habitus of live animal with an invaginated male copulatory organ. B, invaginated male copulatory organ as seen on live animal. C, partly evaginated male copulatory organ as seen on live animal. D, evaginated male copulatory organ as seen on live animal. E, reconstruction on sagittal sections of male copulatory organ (caudal end at the left) F, reconstruction on sagittal sections of female genital system (caudal end at the left). (E – F: HU no. VI. 3.25).

FIGURE 16. Reproduction of female genital system of various species. A, Phaenocora typhlops (after Luther 1921). B, P. lutheri (after Gilbert 1937). C, P. bresslaui (after Marcus 1946). D, P. chloroxantha (after Marcus 1946). E, P. highlandensis (after Gilbert 1935). F, P. polycirra (after Beklemischev 1929). G, P. rufodorsata (after Hofsten 1911).