Pungentus pungens
Thorne and Swanger, 1936

Description (from Thorne, 1974)
    Body cylindroid, slightly arcuate when relaxed with anterior end usually somewhat twisted.  Lateral field 1/3 body width without definite cells but a series of exceedingly fine tubules extend out to pores, when observed from a dorsal view. Lip region rounded, set off by slight  depression with inconspicuous papillae.  Four sclerotized plates about oral opening.  Spear 22 um long, slender, slightly curved with short aperture.  Guiding ring appearing as a single obscure line but doubtless double.  Extensions about as long as spear.  Esophagus enlarged slightly anterior to middle, basal portion half neck width.  Cardia a thin disc, then elongate hemispheroid.  Vulva a deep transverse slit.  Ovaries reflexed half their length.  Eggs 2 - 2 1/2 times as long as body width.  Prerectum length 3 times body width.  Rectum slightly longer than anal body diameter.  Tail bluntly rounded with numerous saccate bodies.  Males not found in northern Great Plains.
    Pungentus pungens is distinctive because of the slender body, very long, slightly arcuate spear and numerous saccate bodies in tail.
    Habitat: An infrequent species from native sod near Opal, South Dakota; Stanley, North Dakota; Elizabeth, Minnesota and Holbrook, Nebraska.

DNA Sequences Obtained

Specimen:	Collected:
9Mile 3-30 LP1-05	9 Mile Prairie, First Survey
Konza SW-02	Konza Prairie, Preliminary survey