Photo Gallery- Long's Peak, Colorado |
The females of this species correspond very closely
to deMan's description of Plectus cirratus and have been identified
by Dr. Cobb and Dr. Steiner as being that species. However the rare
males that occur in the western states differ greatly from the single specimen
collected by deMan but the writer feels that too much importance should
not be attached to these occasional, aberrant forms.
Lip region distinctly set off. Four short,
stout setae. Cutinous framework about the vestibule leading to the
pharynx. Amphids with sensilla pouches located near the base of the
pharynx. Front ovary on the right, the rear on the left side of the
body. Several setae on the tail not shown by deMan but figured by
Cobb.
The tail of the male bears a small acute, elevated
ventral organ just on front of the anus and anterior to this is a series
of four to six ventral supplements with long tube-like extensions reaching
far back into the body, passing between the testes. These organs
are very similar to those being reflexed a distance equal to three times
the body width.
About fifty females and one male in this collection.
(Description- Thorne, 1929)
(Bastian, 1865) L = 1.58 mm; a = 27; b = 4; c = 9.6
(DeMan, 1884) L = 1.3 mm; a = 24-30; b = 4-5; c =
8-9
L = 0.9 mm; c = 9
(Cobb, 1918) L = 1.0 mm; a = 15;
b = 5; c = 8.3; V = 48
(Andrassy, 1977) L = 1.0-1.1 mm; a = 23-27; b = 4.2-4.4; c = 8.9-9.2;
V = 50-51
L = 1.0 mm; a = 25; b = 4.5; c = 8.5; spicules = 35/25 um
Description (from Andrassy, 1985)
Body arcuate ventrally. Cuticle 2-2.5 um
thick on mid-body, finely but distinctly annulated; annulation especially
visible on both extremities. Annules 1.2-1.5 um wide on the
middle region of body. Lateral field 3.5-4 um wide, 1/9 -
1/11 of body diameter, consisting of two alae. Hypodermal glands
present, comparatively large (14-17 um), arranged in two rows on
each side of body.
Head 10-12 um wide, slightly set off, lips
low, rounded. Body at posterior end of oesophagus 2.8-3 times as
wide as head. Cephalic setae located on the third annule, 3-3.5 um
long, obliquely directed forward. Amphids 2.5-3 um wide, 11-15
um
behind anterior body end, mostly somewhat posterior to middle of stoma.
Stoma 21-24 um long, about twice as long
as cephalic diameter; protostom 1/3 of stomatal length. Oesophagus
230-245 um long, corpus and isthmus nearly equal in length, bulbus
strong, oval. Cardial process long. Excretory opening 126-143
um
from the anterior extremity, in 54-61% of the oesophagus length.
Deirids somewhat behind excretory pore. Rectum as long as anal diameter.
Vagina 1/3 of corresponding body width, showing
four muscle circles. Each gonad 3-3.8 times as long as body diameter,
or 12-14% of body length, respectively. Egg oval, 46-49 X 24-28 um.
Distance between vulva and anus 3.4-4 times as long as tail. Tail
96-115 um long, arcuate, gradually narrowing to the tip, 4-5 times
longer than the anal body diameter. Spur (subterminal seta) about
two tail tip diameters from the extremity. Other caudal setae three
pairs in number.
The male of this species seems to be not so extremely
rare than in other Plectus species. It has been described
by DeMan (1884), Gagarin (1977) and Andrassy (1977). All descriptions
fit very well. The spicules are asymmetrical: the left one is longer
(35 um) than the right one (25-30 um). There are no
tubular organs, only three weak preanal papillae. The tail is supplied
with 7 pairs of subventral and 6 pairs of subdorsal setae.