Axonchium (Metaxonchium) vaginatum
Jairajpuri, 1965
Photo Gallery-Konza Prairie

Females (4): L = 2.21 - 2.79 (2.52) mm; a = 37 - 41 (39); b = 2.6 - 3.4 (3.0); c = 77 - 89 (81); c' = 0.6 - 0.8 (0.7); V = 44 - 49 (46); G1 = 7 - 8 (7); G2 = 13 - 15 (14); odontostyle = 13 - 14 (13) um; odontophore = 14 -16 (15) um; oesophagus = 766 - 855 (814) um; prerectum = 218 - 261 (230) um; rectum = 36 - 51 (46) um; tail = 27 - 36 (31) um; ABD = 42 - 47 (44) um.
Males (2): L = 2.36 - 2.41 mm; a = 45 - 56; b = 3.1; c = 83 - 87; c' = 0.7; T = 55 - 56; odontostyle = 12 -13 um; odontophore =  15 um; oesophagus = 758 - 773 um; spicules = 59 - 60 um; lateral guiding pieces =  18 - 19 um; ventro-median supplements = 9; prerectum = 260 -273 um; tail = 27 - 29 um; ABD = 39 - 42 um.

Female.  Body ventrally curved upon fixation. Cuticle distinctly transversely striated, 3-4 um thick at mid-body and 8-10 um on tail. Lateral chords about one-eighth body width at mid-body.  Lateral, dorsal and ventral body pores indistinct.  Lip region offset by constriction, 10-12 um or about one-fifth of body width at base of oesophagus.  Amphids cup shaped, their apertures 7-8 um or about as wide as lip base.  Odontostyle about one lip width long, aperture about one-third its length.  Guiding ring at 10-11 um or about one lip width from anterior end.  Odontophore slightly longer than odontostyle.  Nerve ring 162-172 um from anterior end.  Expanded portion of oesophagusoccupying 64-71% of total oesophageal length, apparently enclosed in muscle sheath of straight bundles.  Cardia cylindrical, 20-29 um long or less than half of the corresponding body width.  Vulva transverse, vaginal wall adjacent vulva distinctly offset from body cuticle and heavily sclerotized.  Anterior utrine sac 129-210 um or 2.4 -2.8 vulval body widths long.  Posterior sexual branch with uterus and oviduct separated by distinct sphincter.  Uterus consisting of distal expanded part and long tubular part with sclerotized apophyses or 'Z' organ.  Pre-rectum 5-6 anal body widths long.  Rectum slightly more than one anal body width long.  Tail hemispheroid with two caudal pores on each side.

Male.  Sperms 5-6 um long, spindle-shaped.  Adanal pair and nine regularly spaced ventromedian supplements.  Spicules arcuate, about 1.5 anal body widths long.  Lateral guiding pieces distinctly sclerotized with distal bifid ends.  Prerectum 6-7 anal body widths long.  Tail cylindrical with two caudal pores on each side.

Habitat and locality.  Soil around roots of jungle plants (unidentified) from Mussoorie, district of Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh.

(Description- Jairajpuri)