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Females
Length 0.8-1.3 mm.; a ~ 20-26; b ~ 3.5-5.6; c = 7.8-10; v = 49.6-53%.
Body gradually attenuated towards both ends, assuming the shape of 'C'
when killed by gentle heat.
Cuticle very finely striated and bearing
two lateral incisures. Cuticular striations 0.0011 mm.
apart at the
middle of the body.
Head not marked off from the rest of the body and
without distinct lips.
Cuticle of the lip region with six branched
cirri (Figs. 1, la, 7).
Six large labial papillae on the head, one at
base of each cephalic cirrus.
Terminal mouth opening leads into a
broad stoma (Figs. 1, 7), the walls of which are mostly heavily
sclerotized.
Stoma divisible into three regions: anterior, middle, and
posterior. Walls of anterior region formed by six curved hooks which
present different outlines when viewed in different focal planes (Fig.
1b). These hooks may lie within the head or they may project slightly
(Fig. 1a). Walls of middle region of stoma formed by a jointed piece which
is distinct from the hooks, there being a visible gap between the two.
This part is not uniformly sclerotized. Posterior region of stoma with
very lightly sclerotized walls; in some specimens it shows a slight
constriction of its walls prior to its junction with the oesophageal lumen
(Fig. 4). Whereas the walls of anterior and middle regions of the stoma
bound broad chambers,walls of posterior region bound a narrow vase-shaped
channel. The three spaces, however, are continuous with each other.
Esophagus with a cylindrical corpus and precorpus but without a median
bulb. Narrow isthmus swells into terminal oesophageal bulb which contains
a valve.
Esophageal tissue seems to be differentiated into two
regions. The tissue of the precorpus and corpus presents a different
appearance from that of the isthmus and terminal bulb, there being an
oblique line of demarcation
between the two seen at the base of the
corpus (Fig. 7).
Well developed cardia between the esophagus and the
intestine.
Lumen of intestine wide and its walls filled with globules
of granular nature.
Rectum long and narrow. Rectal glands present
(Fig. 7).
Nerve ring surrounds isthmus almost midway between the base
of corpus and beginning of terminal bulb, but in some specimens it lies
further forward almost at the base of the corpus. Amphids open through an
elliptical aperture situated behind main chamber of stoma (Figs. 1, 7).
Openings of phasmids situated on slightly raised papilla-like
structures symmetrically located on lateral sides of body (Figs. 5, 7).
Excretory pore almost at level of nerve ring or slightly posterior to it,
leading into a thin narrow duct directed posteriorly (Fig. 7).
Two
ovaries present, opposed and reflexed. Tips of ovaries cross each other.
Oocytes arranged in single file. The two uteri run parallel to reflexed
ovaries before joining to open into a short and narrow vagina, the walls
of
which are lined by refractive cutide continuous with body cuticle.
Vagina opens through a circular vulva placed on top of an elevated
vulvar cone. The vulvar cone may be only slightly elevated above the
surface of body or the elevation may be quite pronounced. 'The vulvar
aperture, however, appears to be circular in all cases (Figs. 5a-5d) ,
almost equatorial or slightly postequatorial in position.
Tail narrows
gradually to a dorsally hooked terminus (Figs. 5, 7).
Males
Length 1.04-1.37; a~21-35; b ~4.3-5.9; c~10.4-11 ;
spicules 0.045-0.052
mm.; gubernaculum 0.017-0.02 mm.
Body assumes shape of a 'J' when
killed by gentle heat.
Cuticle finely striated, striations being
0.0014 mm. apart at the middle of body.
Head not marked off from rest
of body and bears six cirri and six papillae as in female.
Stomatorhabdion arrangement similar to that of female.
Cardia between
the oesophagus and the intestine. Nature of lumen of oesophagus, the
muscular tissue surrounding stoma and oesophagus, and the valve within
terminal bulb is similar to that described in female.
Intestine
narrows considerably as it runs parallel to vas deferens.
Cloaca long
and narrow lined with thick cuticle. Rectal glands present (Fig. 2).
Single testis extends anteriorly beyond middle of body where it is
reflexed. Vas deferens wide and full of sperms (Fig. 2). It narrows
posteriorly to open into the cloaca through a short and narrow
ejac'ulatory duct.
Two spicules present, of similar shape, and not
joined. Gubernaculum present.
Tail curved and ending in dorsally hooked
terminus. Posterior region of body bears seven pairs of preanal and eight
pairs of postanal papillae. Of the latter, two pairs are lateral, five
pairs subvcntral, and one pair subdorsal in position. All preanal pairs
subventraI in position.
No caudal alae.
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