.
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General morphology of Safianema is similar
to that of
the Anguinidae except for the shorter male and female tails.
- Body small-sized (usually < 1mm), slender.
- Lateral fields with 6 incisures.
- Deirids present near level of excretory pore.
- Lip region low, flattened, smooth.
- Stylet small, with conus less than half its length and small
rounded basal knobs.
- Median esophageal bulb oval, valvate.
- Cardia absent.
- Esophageal glands extending over intestine mostly laterally;
dorsal gland enormously developed.
- Tail in both sexes elongate-conoid to filiform.
Ref: Siddiqi, 1980
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Safianema lutonense A. Female head end. B. Male head end. C.
Spicular region. D. Female esophageal regien. E. Female. F. Female
rectal region. G-I. Female tails. J. Male tail. K. Vulval region
from Siddiqi, 1980 |
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Males:
- Spicules ventrally arcuate, anteriorly expanded.
- Gubernaculum small, trough-shaped, fixed.
- Sperm cells large, rounded.
- Caudal alae adanal or may extend to cover up to 65% of tail.
Females:
- Prodelphic, gonad well developed, outstretched.
- Quadricolumella well developed.
- Spermatheca elongated, axial.
- Ovary with a single row of oocytes.
- Posterior branch reduced to a uterine sac.
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Described from peaty soil under an oak tree in Luton, England; collected
by Safia Fatima Siddiqi, daughter of M.R. Siddiqi, and the genus named for
her.
Males occur in the population and the spermatheca id packed with sperm.
Sexual reproduction is inferred.