Prionchulus punctatus
(Cobb, 1917) Andrássy, 1958
Dimensions of Oregon specimens-
Five females. L = 1.9 mm (1.76-2.1); A = 35 (30-39); B
= 4.2 (3.9-4.8); C = 14 (12-18); V = 61% (59-67); buccal cavity = 15 x
34 um (14-16 x 30-36); tail length = 0.14 mm ( 0.12 - 0.16); egg = 44 x
84 um.
Three males. L = 2.2 mm (2.0-2.4); A = 33 (32-34); B
= 4.0 (3.7-4.5); C = 22 (20-25); spicule = 84u (82-90); gubernaculum =
38u (30-42); buccal cavity = 24 x 45u (20-30 x 50); tail length = 0.10
(0.09-0.11).
Descriptions-
Female. Body curls in open "C" shape with strongly arced
tail when relaxed by heat. Labial papillae, nerve canals, and lips
distinct; lip region set off by depression. Buccal cavity elongate-globular,
slightly more than twice as long as wide. Medium-sized dorsal tooth,
anchored in upper fourth of lip region, opposed by numerous (sixteen or
more) minute denticles located along longitudinal ridge. Amphid aperture
approximately one third of stomal cavity width at level of dorsal tooth
apex. Esophagus with nerve ring and excretory pore at upper third.
Didelphic with prominent triangular pieces near entrance of vagina
Arcuate tail elongate-conoid with blunt terminus, without spinneret.
Four pairs of caudal pores usually present (one pair ventral at posterior
third of tail, another pair dorsal in same area, and two submedian pairs
opposite rectum).
Male. Details of labial, buccal cavity, and esophageal
regions similar to those of female. Tail region of male with twenty-one
equally spaced supplements beginning near cloacal opening. Crescent-shaped
spicules with bidentate termini; gubernaculum crescent-shaped with thickened
terminus, bifurcate with anterior portion overlapped the spicule.
Bidentate accessory pieces also distinct. Tail conoid-arcuate, much
shorter than that of female, without spinneret, and with two pairs of caudal
pores (one pair dorsal and one pair ventral) at middle of tail.
Habitat. A common species in western Oregon occurring
about the roots of many kinds of cultivated and noncultivated plants.
Preferred sites appear to be undisturbed areas along stream and ocean banks.
However, they are often found in crop land.
(Description- Jensen & Mulvey, 1968)
Measurements. Female: (n = 8) L = 1.82 + 0.13 (1.64-2.06);
a = 23.9 + 2.0 (20-26); b = 4.4 + 0.3 (4-5); c = 16 +
1.3 (13-17); c' = 3.1 + 0.2 ( 2.8-3.5);
V = 62.0 + 1.1 (60-63); G1 = 14 +
1.2 (12-16); G2 = 14 + 1.4 (12-16); Body diameter
at lip region = 33 + 3.6 (27-37);
body diameter at mid-body = 76 + 8 (64-89); body diameter at
anus = 38 + 4(30-42); Pharynx = 425 + 38 (360-475);
Bucc. caps. length = 37.0 + 4 (30-42); Bucc. caps. diameter
= 15.6 + 2.2 (12-20); Tooth apex (% b.c.l.) = 83 +
2 (80-86); Tail = 119 + 15 (98-144)
Observations
Female
Denticles in subventral rows very small, occaisionally nearly invisible.
Outlets of pharyngeal glands: DO 57-61%; AO 30-38%; PO 90-94%.
Nerve ring at 30-33% of pharyngeal length. In six specimens the anterior
genital branch lies on the right side, the posterior on the left; in two
speciemens, the reverse. Dimensions of intra-uterine eggs (n = 4):
60-87 x 42-55 um. Large mature eggs with mammillate surface typical
for the species; smaller eggs with smooth surface. Intestinal contents
in eight specimens total: 23 nematodes, 11 bdelloid rotifers, one monogonont
rotifer, one fungal spore, detritus, cyanobacteria and other bacteria.
Rectum 31-38 um.
(Description- Zullini, 2002)
DNA Sequences Obtained
